Development Applications
Ask us first
The first step in preparing a development application is to find out about Council's development controls, policies and guidelines. You will need to know about:
- Adelaide Hills Council Development Plan
- Relevant State environmental planning policies
- Relevant site development controls and zoning of the property you wish to develop
- Design principles, guidelines and policies
For more information about Planning or a copy of Adelaide Hills Council Development Plan click here. Please note the the Development Plan file is 9 mb in size and will be slow to download if you have a dial up connection. Hard copies of the Development Plan can be viewed at Council's Service Centres. To avoid possible enforcement action, always ask first before building a structure or changing the use of your land or building.
Property Location Browser
A free map based interface, provided by Landservices SA, to view land administration boundaries and obtain property identifiers eg. plan reference, parcel number, Certificate of Title, Valuation number and address. Also displays Place Names, suburbs, area names, postcodes, Local Government areas, Hundreds and Designated Survey Areas - click here for the link.
The Adelaide Hills Council administers development of land and buildings under a number of Acts of Parliament and refers to various reports for guidance.
The Council's Development Services section are a team of committed professionals with extensive expertise in building regulations and construction, planning and heritage advice.
So whether you're planning your dream home, proposing to develop a site, add to a business or subdivide your land, staff at Adelaide Hills Council can advise you at every stage of your project from design to completion.
Customer Service Officers can answer most procedural and fee enquiries over the phone, or over the counter if you call in personally. They will then refer you to the appropriate professional officers who can provide detailed advice regarding:
- Relevant design guidelines and objectives
- Site development constraints and guidelines
- Heritage assessment criteria
- Approvals required under the Development, Local Government, Native Vegetation or Water Resources Acts
- Building regulations and construction certificates
- Other matters that you will need to consider when designing or preparing your proposal
On specific proposals we suggest that you make an appointment with one of our Development Assessment Officers for "pre-application discussions". Prepare a sketch of your proposal in advance to illustrate your ideas. This will allow us to give you more detailed advice and information regarding your proposal at the meeting or over the counter at our Woodside Office.
Changes to the Residential Code
As of 1 August 2012, changes have been made by the State Government to the Residential Development Code. For further information please click www.sa.gov.au/planning/rescode
In relation to new dwellings, only a small portion of the AHC area is affected by the Residential Code (due to bushfire and waste control system requirements ) – refer to map by clicking on the following link http://sa.gov.au/upload/franchise/Housing,%20property%20and%20land/PLG/Adelaide_Hills_Council_Residential_Code_Maps.pdf
AHC checklists for Residential Code and Building Rules Consent Only Applications “fast tracked” developments can be viewed and downloaded by clicking on the checklists:
Storage/Garden Sheds 40 - 60m2
Storage/Garden Sheds under 40m2
Need other Approvals?
You need to be aware that your proposal may require approval from other government agencies.
The type of approval and the relevant agency depends on the type and location of the proposed development. Where possible, we can help you identify what other approvals are required from State Government departments or agencies.
Native Vegetation Removal
Approval may be required to remove native vegetation. Please click here to go to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources webpage on Native Vegetation, which provides information on where Native Vegetation can and cannot be cleared and also what approvals are required to remove vegetation.
Minimum Information Required to be Lodged with a Development Application
Council requires the following information for all development applications submitted:
Planning Rules Consent
(3 copies of plans including one (1) set of A3 size plans)
- Site plan with minimum scale of 1:200, showing boundaries, location and size of existing and proposed structures, existing trees and vegetation
- Provide location of waste water system/main sewer/CWMS connection points
- Excavation, fill, finished bench levels, finished floor levels
- Elevation plans
- Floor plans
- Colour of the roofing and wall materials to be used in the proposed development
- Arrangements for detention and disposal of stormwater
Building Rules Consent
(3 copies of the following is required)
- Complete working drawings showing site plan, floor plan, roof plan, elevations, sections and details of construction (1:100)
- Footing Report
- A certificate of Builders Indemnity Insurance is required when a licensed builder, licensed trades person or a licensed building supervisor has been engaged for construction work valued at $12,000 or more
Development Application Form
The following is required when lodging your development appliction form:
- completed and signed development application form (refer 4-page attachment below)
- three (3) copies of all drawings/plans (if larger than A3 size, then please provide one A3 copy)
- copy of Certificate of Title
Download Development Application Form
Download Development Application Fee Schedule
PLEASE NOTE - Development Application fees are payable at the time of lodging your application, which can be done in person or via mail to:
Development Services Section
PO Box 44
WOODSIDE SA 5244
If you require assistance completing your application form and/or determining appropriate fees, please contact us on 8408 0400 or alternatively, visit one of our Service Centres at:
- Stirling, 63 Mt Barker Road Stirling
- Woodside, 26 Onkaparinga Valley Road Woodside
- Gumeracha, 45 Albert Street Gumeracha
Customer Service Standards and Charter
As part of our continuous improvement program, the Planning & Development department has formulated a Customer Service Charter with regard to the processing of development applications and providing a service to you. This Charter outlines the levels of service we aim to deliver to you in this regard. Please review these when submitting an application or corresponding with members of our team in order to determine what our established customer service standards are. It is against these standards that our performance is to be measured, and we would appreciate feedback if you consider that we fall short in any of these areas:
Customer Service Charter
Customer Service Standards
More Information
Information sheets are available for the most common development applications. Please take the time to read through them and use the comprehensive check list that is associated with them when lodging your development application.
If your require additional assistance please do not hesitate to contact our duty officer on 8408 0400 or email us on mail@ahc.sa.gov.au
New Environmental Design Guide
Anyone looking for information regarding the issues, technologies and initiatives related to sustainability can do so by clicking on the following web link to BEDP Environmental Design Guide:
http://www.environmentdesignguide.net.au/
Please note that Council is providing this link for community information purposes only and does not necessarily support or endorse the views or technologies discussed.
