Patio, pergola or shade sail
A patio is an unenclosed structure with a roof cover that is non-permeable to water, which may be attached to or detached from a building.
A pergola is an unroofed (shade cloth, lattice timber battens etc.) open framed structure. A pergola with a non-permeable roof is deemed a ‘patio’.
A shade sail is a piece of permeable fabric fixed to posts or another structure. A shade sail with a non-permeable roof is deemed to be a ‘patio’.
You might need to apply for development approval and/or a building permit before you can add a patio, pergola or shade sail somewhere on your property in the City of Belmont.
When is development approval required?
You will need to apply for development approval if your proposed patio, pergola or shade sail for a single, grouped or multiple dwelling is:
- Located within the front setback of the property;
- On a lot in a Special Development Precinct.
- When the development is on land which is within, or abuts, the Swan Canning Development Control area, or, in the opinion of Council, is likely to impact the quality of waters in the Swan River Trust Development Control area.
How to apply for development approval
To apply for development approval, you will need to:
What is the development approval process?
How do I know what has been approved for my property?
You can lodge your application:
- Online using the City’s Planning and Building Online Application portal;
- In person at the City of Belmont, 215 Wright Street, Cloverdale;
- By mail to City of Belmont, Locked Bag 379, Cloverdale WA 6985.
Visit the Planning and Building Online Application portal
When is a building permit required?
You will need to apply for a building permit for all patios, pergolas and shade sails except
where:
- A patio is free standing, less than 2.4 metres high; and with an area of less than 10 square metres;
- A pergola or shade sail associated with a Class 1a dwelling less than 2.4 metres high; and with an area of less than 20 square metres.
Please note, even if a building permit is not needed, you may still need to apply for development approval – and your patio, pergola or shade sail will still need to comply with the requirements of the Building Code of Australia 2016 or 2019 Volume Two.
If you need apply for both a building permit (uncertified or certified) and development approval, you will need the development approval first.
How to apply for a building permit
To apply for a building permit, you will need to:
- Complete and submit a Form BA1 Application for a Building Permit – Certified* or Form BA2 Application for a Building Permit – Uncertified;
- Submit a Form BA3 Certificate of Design Compliance from a registered building surveying contractor, if you are applying for a certified building permit (Form BA1);
- Provide supporting documentation, including:
- A copy of receipt of payment from the Construction Training Fund for the Construction Training Industry Fund levy if the estimated value of the works exceeds $20,000;
- A copy of your site plan (minimum scale 1:200) showing the location of all existing and proposed structures, proposed setbacks, existing and proposed finished ground levels, easements, etc.;
- A copy of elevations of the proposed structure(s) (minimum scale 1:100);
- A copy of a sectional detail of the proposed structure(s) (minimum scale 1:50), including details of the type, size, stress grades and spans of all members, all connections and footing details;
- Pay the application fee for an uncertified application and Building Services Levy.
Due to the impacts of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) if you are making an application for a Building Permit - Certified during the 2020-2021 financial year, the City is waiving this application fee, but the Building Services Levy is still applicable.
Please note, if the City’s Building Services team are not able to determine the structural adequacy of your proposed structure, your design may need to be certified by a practising registered structural engineer.
You can lodge your application:
- Online using the City’s Planning and Building Online Application portal;
- In person at the City of Belmont, 215 Wright Street, Cloverdale;
- By mail to City of Belmont, Locked Bag 379, Cloverdale WA 6985.
Visit the Planning and Building Online Application portal
Useful links
To learn more about the regulations which apply to rainwater tanks, you might like to explore these links.
For more information, please email
building@belmont.wa.gov.au or phone the City’s Building Services team on 9477 7425.