Building Consent

Building work is broadly defined under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (SA) as:

work or activity in the nature of—

(a) the construction, demolition or removal of a building (including any incidental excavation or filling of land); or

(b) any other prescribed work or activity, but does not include any work or activity that is excluded by regulation from the ambit of this definition.

[s 3]

Further information on whether particular work may be defined as building work is available from the 'PlanSA-Find out if you need approval' website (opens new window).

Generally if an inconsistency exists between the Planning Rules and the Building Rules, the Building Rules prevail and the Planning Rules do not apply to the extent of the inconsistency [s 57(3)]. However this does not apply in relation to a State heritage place or local heritage place.

The regulation of building work is contained in several parts of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (SA).

Notifications of any proposed building work must be given to the council within a certain period of commencement or completion of the work. Under the regulations, a Statement of Compliance from a licensed building work contractor, registered building work supervisor or a building certifier, may have to be attached to a notification via the SA Planning Portal. The local council can give advice on the required notification period [see Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (SA) s 146(1); Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) Regulations 2017 (SA) r 93 and r 104].