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Residential Development

The Residential Design Codes (R Codes) were prepared by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) and provide the basis for controlling the siting and design of residential development throughout Western Australia.

Below is a guideline that will assist you in the requirements for building approval with the Shire of Chittering.

Septic plans

All plans for proposed dwellings shall be accompanied with an Application to Construct or Install Apparatus for the Treatment of Sewage, accompanied with a cheque for $216.00 made payable to the Shire of Chittering.

Site plans

Site plans must clearly show:

  1. The true size, shape and dimension of the allotment together with street names, lot number, title reference, north point, easements and existing drainage/sewer lines.
  2. All existing and proposed buildings with distances shown at right angles (90 degrees) to all boundaries both to the walls and eaves at the nearest points.
  3. The overall dimensions of existing buildings relative to site coverage and plot ratio. 

Main plans must clearly show:

  1. A floor plan - layout plan accurately depicting the size of all rooms, wall thickness, subtotal and overall total dimensions of external walls, projections and returns.
  2. The roof outline, eaves projections, ridges, hips and valleys are to be indicated together with size, span spacing and type of structural beams, hanging beams etc. 
  3. Fittings and fixtures such as bath, shower, WC, basin, sink, stove etc. All window and door openings with directions of swing indicated. 
  4. Where other than standard footings are proposed foundation plan should be shown.
  5. Transverse and/or longitudinal full height sections are required which clearly indicate: - size and depth of footings, ground levels, floor, wall, ceiling roof construction together will all relative heights.
  6. At least two elevations are required clearly indicating the finished appearance of the building with relative ground levels shown.
  7. Enlarged details are required - wall/floor/footing intersection, change of floor levels, roof/ceiling construction for areas ceiled on rake retaining walls etc. and for roof anchorage and other specific methods of construction as necessary to clearly define the method proposed.

Two (2) copies of specifications describing materials to be used in the construction and where not indicated on the drawings the size together with all other information not shown on drawings to show that the buildings comply with the Building Code of Australia.

Additional items for your application

  • Complete a Building Industry Training Fund (BCITF) Form for any work over $20,000
  • An owner builders licence granted by the Builder Registration Board for Owners not wishing to employ a registered builder for any work over $20,000 (farm sheds excluded).
  • Provide the Building Officer with information on how you intend to protect your building from white ant attack.
  • Provide Building Code of Australia energy efficiency checklist sheet.
  • "Application to Build" form completed.
  • Fees
  • Housing Indemnity Policy - not required for owner builders. 

Minimum requirements for your dwelling

  1. The owner is responsible for providing adequate water supply suitable for domestic purpose e.g. 120,000 litres of rain water storage. In all non reticulated Special Rural zone subdivisions a 50mm male camlock fitting for fire fighting purposes is required on all 120,000 litre tanks. All bore water for domestic consumption must be treated in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Health.
  2. Building must be substantially completed within 12 months from date of issue of licence.
  3. All dwelling sites are to be protected from termites, certificates lodged at the Council Office and durable notices placed in the meter box.
  4. Twenty four (24) hour notice for footing, slab and suspended slab inspections.
  5. No clay or loam is to be used as fill beneath a sand pad within 2m perimeter of the building (includes verandahs)
  6. Sand pads generally in the Shire shall be 600mm high
  7. All dwellings constructed in the Muchea Townsite will be required to be connected to Alternative Treatment Units (ATU) which have nutrient retentive capacity. Pad heights in the Muchea Townsite are to be 300mm above the centre point of the road.
  8. Drainage:
    a) Roof downpipes must discharge well clear of building and leach drain areas.
    b) All septic tank installations - 1520mm diameter x 1220mm diameter tanks with a dual leach drain system. The length of these drains will depend on the number of bedrooms in the dwelling and the soil types. 

Additional provisions may be required depending on soil types, etc.

For advice please contact the Shire's Building Department on (08) 9576 4600.

Setbacks

The setbacks in rural areas must be 50 metres from major roads, 30 metres from secondary roads, and 20 metres from minor roads. Clearance to rear and side boundaries must be 4 metres.

On rural zones (Rural Residential, Small Rural Holdings, Rural Retreat and Rural Conservation) all the building must be located within the prescribed building envelope.

Where a building envelope does not exist, general setbacks listed below must be followed:

  • Highway                            100 metres
  • Major Road                         50 metres
  • Other Road                         20 metres
  • Other Lot Boundaries       15 metres 

Alterations to building envelopes may be approved by Council on written request. This application should outline the reasons for altering the envelope. Include plans or maps of existing and proposed building envelopes, showing the envelope dimensions and distances to all boundaries. The proposed buildings should be marked on the plan and the site pegged to enable a site inspection. In all cases letters of approval from all adjoining owners are required.

It is an offence to occupy any building unless it is approved as a dwelling. No temporary onsite living will be permitted without the explicit authority of the Chittering Shire Council.

Temporary accommodation

Temporary accommodation on site is permitted in a caravan for a six (6) month period during the construction of a dwelling provided:

  • House plans and specifications are approved
  • House slab or (in the case of a framed home) the stumps bearers and joints are completed
  • Septic system is installed and approved.

A further and final six (6) month extension to this permit may be granted provided the roof is on the dwelling in six (6) months.

In all cases the dwelling must be complete for occupation within twelve (12) months or the owner must move off site.

Minimum requirements for building approval

Engineers drawing and details if required
Council reserves the right to request engineer's certification on plans. This certificate is required on two (2) storey dwellings, dwellings with cellars, non conventional building materials, any shed over 100m2 or in earthquake prone area. Owners name, site address, original signature and qualifications of the Engineer must be endorsed on each copy in ink.

Number of copies
A minimum of two (2) approved copies to be submitted. Certain types of photocopies and plans stuck together with tape are not approved duplicates. Pencil drawings are not acceptable. Black ink should be used.

Scale of drawings (must be metric)
Site Plan                                                     1:200 (minimum 1:500)
Main Plans, sections and elevation      1:100
Details                                                        1:20 (minimum 1:50)