Can I start work before my building permit is approved?

No, genuinely not for structural work requiring a permit — proceeding before approval is issued is a real compliance risk, potentially resulting in having to redo non-compliant work, along with possible fines.

Some preliminary, non-structural activities may be reasonable before formal approval (early planning, obtaining quotes), but actual construction work covered by the permit should wait for genuine approval.

If your timeline is under pressure, discuss this directly with your building surveyor about realistic processing times, rather than proceeding without approval and risking the genuine consequences of non-compliant work.

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