Planning property enquiry
Information available through a planning property enquiry includes:
- Written advice on a planning matter, (including whether a permit is required).
- Copies of planning permits and/or endorsed plans (delegate reports). Plans are only provided with owner's written consent.
- Viewing of planning permits and endorsed plans at City of Melbourne.
Planning property enquiries must be submitted in writing using the following application form:
Building plans and documentation search
A building plans and documentation search is a way to access documents from our building permit archives. Under the Building Regulations 2018, Regulation 50, only the building owner or a person with the written consent of the owner may request this search.
We will provide digital copies of building permit files from our archives that have been provided to us by the private building surveyor. Depending on the nature of the building works, the permits may have the following:
- architectural and structural building plans
- builder’s information and insurance details
- engineering details and calculations
- certificates of final inspection and occupancy permits (including 9b certificates).
Please get in touch with your building practitioner if you are unsure of what documentation you require.
We recommend asking your owners corporation if they have copies of the documents you require.
Note: Council does not hold any building plans or documentation before 1960. You may find these plans and documents, along with more information, at Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) External link.
A plans and documentation search involves two fees — an application fee and a fee for each permit you order.
The application fee:
- Covers our initial research into your property, confirmation of owner’s consent and the preparation of a list of available permits that you can choose from.
- The fee is a flat rate per search, based on whether the property is commercial, mixed-use, or residential.
The permit fees:
- Are charged for each building permit you request from the list of permits.
- May include an added fee when there are substantial amounts of large format drawings that need to be digitised.
The building plans and documentation search fees cover the search and retrieval process, not the results.
The fees are non-refundable, and Council cannot guarantee information or results.
If you are a resident of a building that is considered mixed use, you can ask your owners corporation to apply on your behalf. The owners corporation will pay the fee and keep the plans in their records.
View the breakdown of fees:
Submit an online application:
Click 'Apply online', then select 'Building control' and choose 'Building Plans and Documentation Search' from the drop-down.
We will send you a list of the building permits in our records for your property. Once you have selected which files interest you and paid the fee, we will send you copies of the permits.
We aim to complete searches within 21 days. We will contact you if we expect the search to take longer.
Apply for a building plans and documentation search
Click 'Apply online', then select 'Building control' and choose 'Building Plans and Documentation Search' from the drop-down.
Building property information certificate
Information available through a building property enquiry includes:
Building permits, notices and orders – Regulation 51 (1)
- Details of building permits covering the previous 10 years.
- Details of occupancy permits and certificates of final inspection.
- Details of statements issued under Regulation 64 or 241.
- Current building notices or orders.
Flooding and termites – Regulation 51 (2)
- Details if the property is in an area liable to flooding (Regulation 153 and 154)
- Details if the property is in an area likely to be subject to infestation by termites (Regulation 150).
Property enquiry for inspections – Regulation 51 (3)
- Expands on details provided in the Part 1 Property Enquiry and includes:
- Details of mandatory inspection dates for building works specific to occupancy permits and certificate of final inspection.
- It is advised that Part 3 is obtained on recommendation only as this information is rarely required.
Submit an online application:
Fact sheet
Apply online for a building property enquiry.
Owners consent
Under the Building Regulations 2018 - Regulation 50, only the building owner, or a person with written owner’s consent, may request this search:
- If you are the owner, you must provide proof of ownership by attaching a Certificate of Title or Rates Notice.
- If you are not the owner, you must provide a formal letter from the owner giving you authorisation to do the search. The names of the owner and applicant must be present in the letter. We will not accept screenshots of emails.
- If you are a representative of an Owners Corporation, you must provide an excerpt from your management contract or a copy of Annual General Meeting Minutes.
Adjoining property owner’s details
Information available through an adjoining property owner’s details application includes the adjoining property owner's name and postal address, so they can be notified of proposed building works which may affect their property.
You should only apply if your proposed building works have obligations under the Building Act 1993 to protect adjoining properties from potential damage.
Note: If you are seeking owner’s details for any other purpose, please contact Landata Victoria External link from the Department of Transport and Planning.
Download and complete the application form:
Did you know?
Public Record Office Victoria holds an array of records created by Victorian Government departments and authorities including courts, local councils, schools, public hospitals and other public offices.
Building Business Support Team
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