What happens if I build without a required permit?

Genuine consequences can include fines, a requirement to obtain retrospective approval (which may require costly rework if the as-built work doesn’t comply), or in serious cases, a requirement to remove non-compliant work entirely.

Beyond legal consequences, unpermitted structural work can create genuine issues at resale — buyers and their conveyancers often specifically check for this, and unpermitted work can complicate or delay a sale.

This is exactly why obtaining proper approval upfront, even though it takes time, is significantly less costly and disruptive than the genuine risks of proceeding without it.

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