Does a new house slab need council approval?

A new house slab needs a building permit, which in Victoria is issued by a registered building surveyor — not directly by your local council in most cases, though council involvement can still apply depending on your specific property (planning overlays, easements, or specific local requirements).

The building permit process requires your engineer’s certified slab design, your soil report, and compliance with the National Construction Code and relevant Australian Standards. This is a genuine legal requirement, not a formality — building without it risks having to redo non-compliant work.

If your property carries a specific planning overlay (heritage, bushfire-prone, flood-prone), additional council-level planning approval may also be required before the building permit stage.

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