Whatever you construct on your property

Whatever you construct on your property - needs plans, unless it is defined as "minor building work". Even so the Act states very well that any structural building work that is defined as "minor building work" requires approval by your local authority's building control officer before you can commence with any work . As long as you make an application to get the proper approval, you DO NOT NEED PLANS. But the law is also very clear in terms of compliance with the regulations; minor building work must adhere to the regulations. Temporary Buildings Short-term structures also need permission from the local authority. This includes builders' sheds, on-site toilets, and any other structure you may want to build (or be obliged to erect) for the building project. Info you need to supply:

• what the planned use and life span of the building will be
• the space in which it is to be built (in other words where you are intending to put it)
• the availability of proper materials from which it may be constructed

The Definition of "minor building work" in Terms of the Law

• the erection of:
1. poultry houses that are no more than ten square metres in size,
2. aviaries that are no bigger than 20 square metres,
3. solid fuel stores (for storing wood, coal, anthracite or similar) that are no more than ten square metres in area and no higher than two metres,
4. tool sheds that are smaller than ten square metres,
5. childrens' playhouses that are no more than five square metres,
6. cycle sheds no more than five square metres,
7. greenhouses that are a maximum 15 square metres,
8. open-sided car, caravan or boat shelters or carports that do not exceed 40 square metres in size,
9. any freestanding wall built with masonry, concrete, steel, aluminum, or timber or any wire fence that does not exceed 1,8 m in height at any point above ground level and does not retain soild
10. any pergola,
11. private swimming pool,
12. change room at a private swimming pool not exceeding 10 sq m in area.
• the replacement of a roof (or part of a roof) with the same or similar materials,
• the conversion of a door into a window, or a window into a door, without increasing the width of the opening,
• the making of an opening in a wall that doesn't affect the structural safety of the building concerned,
• the partitioning or enlarging of any room by the erection or demolition of an internal wall, as long as it doesn't affect the structural safety of the building,
• the section of any solar water heater not exceeding six square metres in area on any roof; or 12 square metres if the water heater is erected elsewhere,
• the erection of any building that the local council doesn't believe plans are necessary