All About the Permits and Approvals Required to Build a Modular Home in QLD
The latest quarterly report from the Real Estate Institute of Queensland about property prices in the region states that the prices have been rising consistently by over 6.1% over the year. This rise is going against the economic prediction made over the past year because of the pandemic. The steady rate of growth is indicative of the unbeatable lifestyle, low stock availability and record-low interest rates for home loans that have resulted in its high demand. Due to their scenic topography, build and design flexibility, sustainability, reduced construction cost, faster move-in and increased durability QLD modular homes are increasingly becoming a popular choice for Australian residents.
Do Land Owners Require Permits to build a Modular Home in Queensland?
Like a conventional house building project, building and installation permits are necessary to build a prefabricated modular home on private property. As modular home designs are unique, their build permit and approval requirements can differ in each state. Generally, two types of permits are necessary for residential construction projects. It includes the planning permit and the building permit. A planning permit is a legal document provided by the local council approving the development project, and the building permit refers to the approval of building construction. This article looks into what permits Queensland state to require landowners to install a modular home.
Essentially the permit process for building a traditional home or a QLD modular home is similar. However, the difference is in how simple it is to obtain a permit for modular homes. As they are built in a factory and transported to the land, they cause minimal impact on the site. The length of the construction process is also lesser as modular homes take 6-8 weeks as opposed to traditional homes that take several months for completion.
Planning Permit
A planning approval or a development application is necessary to begin the home installation process. In Queensland, planning permits are a must for about 70-80% of residential constructions, including modular homes. The factors that affect the approval of a planning permit includes planning overlays like bushfire management, erosion management, land inundation management, flood management and aboriginal heritage consideration. For example, those building a modular house on the beach must get a planning permit addressing the bushfire overlay and flood management.
Building Permit
The first approval that potential modular homeowners must seek is the building permit or a construction certificate from the local council. These permits ensure that the structure follows the building code of Queensland. It also ensures that the building is safe for the residents of the home and the community. A building permit is not issued without an approved planning permit. If homeowners install a modular home in a residential area, the process is simple. However, most modular homes are built in picturesque locations in the countryside. Therefore, modular homeowners must ensure consistency and thoroughness with the planning permit to get an approved building permit. One must consult their lawyer about thoroughly developing the legal document to get approval seamlessly.
The Plumbing Approval
The next part of the building permit is the plumbing approval. Homeowners must consult a licensed plumbing designer to document and design the sewage treatment plant for the home and the site. Having direct access to the town sewer makes this process easier. The plumber would provide a detailed plan showing the connection from the sewer point to the house and the plumbing connections throughout the house. The homeowners must submit this document to the local council to get approval.
Other approvals required by the councils for QLD modular homes include sitting, secondary dwelling and ecological overlays.
