Brett Field
On the Gold Coast, most decks, roofed patios and renovations that change the structure need building approval. Small low pergolas, minor repairs, and inside work that does not touch the structure usually do not.
In Queensland, that approval mostly comes from a private building certifier, not the council. Below are the rules for each kind of job from the City of Gold Coast and the Queensland Building Regulation 2021, checked on 4 October 2026. This is a plain summary, not legal advice. Every block is different, so ask a building certifier about yours.
Who gives building approval on the Gold Coast?
A private building certifier. The City of Gold Coast says that until 1998 the council issued building approvals, but "now building approvals are usually privately certified". Every certifier must hold a licence with the QBCC.
The council still has a say in some jobs. It can be a referral agency, for example when a deck over 1 metre high is built inside a setback near the boundary. The certifier arranges that step.
The QBCC is clear about who is on the hook: "It's your responsibility as a home owner to make sure the right building approvals are in place before work starts", even if you have hired a builder. Its approvals page for home owners has more.
Do I need council approval for a deck on the Gold Coast?
Usually, yes. The City of Gold Coast says a deck needs building approval "unless smaller than 10 square metres, less than 1.0m high and meeting all building requirements". It also says a new timber deck "is likely to need building approval from a private certifier".
The Building Regulation 2021, Schedule 1 section 13, sets the same limits. A small structure is exempt only if it is no more than 10 m2, no side is longer than 5 metres, and it is no more than 2.4 metres high. The exemption never covers "a deck that is roofed or higher than 1m above the deck's natural ground surface".
Timber laid straight on the ground, with no posts or supports, does not need approval if it meets all building requirements. Even a deck that needs no approval must still meet the building code, and the owner is responsible for that.
So most family-sized decks need approval. Our deck cost guide shows what a deck costs to build, approvals aside.
Do I need council approval for a pergola?
Not for a small, open one. The City of Gold Coast says unroofed pergolas "don't need building approval when less than 2.4 metres high (2.1 metres mean height), 10 square metres, 5.0 metres long".
Inside a setback area, an unroofed pergola "can't be used for entertainment and can only be ornamental or horticultural use". In other words, a frame for plants is fine near the boundary, but an outdoor dining area is not.
Once a pergola gets a roof, the patio rules below apply.
Do I need council approval for a patio or patio roof?
Usually, yes. The council says "unless it is very small in size a roofed patio will usually need building approval". The only exception is a small, low roofed patio under 2.4 metres high (2.1 metres mean height), 10 m2 and 5 metres long, that is not in any setback area.
The same goes for nearby structures:
| Structure | Needs building approval? |
|---|---|
| Unroofed pergola | No, if under 2.4 m high (2.1 m mean), 10 m2 and 5 m long |
| Roofed patio | Usually. Not needed only if under those sizes and not in a setback |
| Shade sail | "Generally, all shade sails need building approval", with the same small exception |
| Bali hut | Yes, "because of their height" |
| Raised deck | Yes, unless under 10 m2 and under 1 m high |
Source: City of Gold Coast, "Do your building works need approval?", checked 4 October 2026.
Do I need council approval for internal renovations in Queensland?
Not if the work leaves the structure alone. Under Schedule 1 section 7 of the Building Regulation 2021, repairs, maintenance and alterations to an existing building do not need building approval, unless they:
- change the floor area or height of the building
- affect a structural component (apart from minor ones, below)
- affect the fire safety system
Section 8 allows some minor structural work too, as long as it affects no more than 20% of the building's structural parts of the same type. The regulation's own example is "replacing a verandah post".
So a kitchen or bathroom refit that keeps the walls where they are usually sits in the "no approval" group. Taking out a load-bearing wall does not. The QBCC lists "making major structural changes" as one of the jobs that may need council approval.
One trap: changing what a room is used for. The City of Gold Coast's example is a family turning their garage into a bedroom. That needs approval "even though no building work is to be done".
Our bathroom and kitchen renovation pages show the work we do, with approvals handled for you.
What about plumbing in a kitchen or bathroom renovation?
A licensed plumber handles it. The Queensland Government lists "kitchen and bathroom plumbing renovations" as notifiable work, which "a plumber or drainer can do without a local government permit". The plumber then has to register the work with the QBCC, on a Form 4, within 10 business days of invoicing it.
Plumbing and drainage need a QBCC licence at any value, so this is never a job to do yourself.
What if work was done without approval?
The City of Gold Coast says work done without the right approvals is "deemed unlawful building works", and it "can take enforcement action if you do not have the correct certification". You can see this on its development compliance page.
Getting approval after the fact runs through a private certifier, the same as a new job. The council's guide to this says:
- someone, such as a building designer, has to prepare the application, because the certifier does not
- "not all works are able to comply with building requirements, some may need removal; or modification"
- lodging an application is not enough on its own. Compliance action carries on until the approval is granted
- you finish with a final certificate from the certifier (a Form 11, 17 or 21)
Get that final certificate for any approved job, too. The council says "a final inspection is not automatic and must be requested", and a missing one can cause "resale and insurance issues".
Do I need a QBCC licensed contractor as well?
Yes, for any job over $3,300. In Queensland, building work over that value, counting labour and materials, must be done by a QBCC licensed contractor, with a written contract and home warranty insurance. Approval and a licence are two separate things. A raised deck usually needs both. An inside refit that leaves the structure alone may need only the licence.
On our deck jobs, Brett checks what your deck needs and handles the approval for you. More on what we build is on our deck building page.
Where does this information come from?
Checked on 4 October 2026: City of Gold Coast pages on building approval, private certifiers and development compliance, and its "Approval of building work" guide; the Building Regulation 2021 (Qld), current as at 14 August 2026; the QBCC (home owner approvals, council or certifier, notifiable plumbing work, licences); Business Queensland and the Queensland Government's plumbing laws page. The council's approval page still points readers to the Building Regulation 2006. The 2021 Regulation is the one in force, and its limits match the council's.
See our decks and patios work, or check what your job will cost.
