Does excavation need council approval separately from a building permit?

Sometimes, yes — while excavation for a building project is often covered within the overall building permit, certain specific aspects (asset protection for council infrastructure, planning overlays) can genuinely require separate council approval.

This varies by council and project specifics, making it worth confirming directly rather than assuming either that everything is automatically covered by your building permit, or that separate approval is always needed.

Your contractor or building surveyor can help clarify what, specifically, your project needs beyond the standard building permit for your particular council and site.

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