Reblocking Permits in Melbourne

Why reblocking needs a building permit

Victoria's building regulations require a permit for most structural work, and replacing the stumps and footings that carry a house falls squarely into that category. The permit is there to make sure the new footings are the right size and depth for the soil, the stumps are the right type and spacing, and the finished work is safe. Skipping it can cause headaches later: unpermitted structural work can come up when you sell, when you renovate, or if there is ever an insurance claim.

Who issues the permit

Building permits in Victoria are issued by a registered building surveyor. This can be a private surveyor or the municipal building surveyor at your council. The surveyor reviews the proposed work, issues the permit, carries out or arranges the mandatory inspections, and signs off at the end. As the owner, you are entitled to choose the surveyor, though most people let their restumper arrange it as part of the job. We organise the permit for every reblock we carry out.

What the surveyor usually asks for

The details depend on the house and the surveyor, but a reblocking application commonly includes:

• A description of the work, such as a full or partial restump, the stump type and the footing design.
• A site or floor plan showing the stump layout.
• Soil information. On some sites, particularly reactive clay or filled ground, the surveyor may ask for a soil test or engineering input before signing off the footing design.
• Details of the builder carrying out the work, including registration where required for the value and type of work.

The inspections during the job

Inspections are tied to the stages of work. For a typical reblock you can expect:

• A footing inspection after the holes are dug and before concrete is poured, so the surveyor can confirm depth, size and ground conditions.
• A final inspection once the stumps are in, the house is re-levelled and the subfloor is tidied up.

The surveyor may add other inspections if the job includes significant bearer or joist replacement. When everything is signed off you receive the final documentation for your records, which is worth keeping with the house paperwork.

Heritage overlays in the inner suburbs

Large parts of inner and middle Melbourne, especially through the north and inner east, are covered by Heritage Overlays in the local planning scheme. A heritage overlay is a planning control, separate from the building permit, and it focuses on the external appearance of the street.

For most restumps, the stumps are hidden behind the base of the house and nothing visible changes, so the overlay does not come into play. It can matter if the job:

• Raises the floor level noticeably, changing how the house sits on the street.
• Replaces or alters visible base cladding, such as lattice, timber skirting or a brick or bluestone plinth across the front.
• Changes front steps, verandah posts or the verandah floor as part of the work.

If any of that is planned, the council may require a planning permit before the building permit can be issued. We flag this at the inspection so it can be checked with council early rather than discovered halfway through.

Other overlays and controls

• Bushfire overlays in parts of the Dandenong Ranges and outer east can affect some building work, so they are worth checking on hills properties.
• Flood and drainage controls apply in some low-lying areas and can influence floor heights.
• Owners corporation rules may apply to units and townhouses.

How long the paperwork takes

A straightforward reblocking permit is usually not the slow part of the job. Time adds up if the surveyor needs soil or engineering reports, or if a heritage planning permit is required first. Booking the inspection early gives everything time to line up.