People affected by bushfires may access faster approvals to help repair or rebuild buildings damaged in bushfires.
Planning approval
Approvals are not always needed if buildings on your land have been destroyed or substantially damaged by bushfires.
Approval not required
- demolition checklist
- temporary installation of a shipping or storage container checklist
- temporary caravan accommodation checklist
Approval required
- buildings that are state or local heritage listed
- buildings located in a historic area overlay in the Planning and Design Code
- temporary accommodation in the area affected by bushfire, checklist
- a replacement building, new dwellings and structures checklist
- any new house
Building approval
Approvals are not always needed if buildings on your land have been destroyed or substantially damaged by bushfires.
Approval not required
- work to fix minor damage, such as smoke damage
- temporary structures to store goods and equipment
- temporary accommodation (caravan) that is not fixed to the land.
Approval required
Building approval is required for other building work, including:
- building a new:
- house
- carport
- verandah
- shed
- pool or other structure
- renovating or making additions to buildings
- internal alterations, which involve structural changes
- temporary accommodation such as fixed caravans and transportable or demountable buildings or structures.
Repairing your current house
Have your house inspected by a professional to check it is structurally sound following the fire. You might need to repair to a higher standard of bushfire protection if your house is older.
You might need building approval if the damage is significant.
Building a new house
Building a new house requires planning and building assessment. You might need to meet extra safety requirements, depending on the bushfire risk.
Planning assessment
Planning assessment considers things like:
- the siting of your house
- clearance from vegetation
- access to and from your property
- how close the house is to activities like farming or industry.
You must comply with the planning rules relevant to the bushfire hazard in your area. These rules are set out in overlays of the Planning and Design Code.
Use the South Australian Property and Planning Atlas (SAPPA) to view maps showing each area’s level of risk. Start by searching a location then add the Planning and Design Code Overlay 'Hazards Overlays'.
In high bushfire risk areas, new houses must undergo a Bushfire attack level assessment.
Under certain circumstances, planning approval is given within 10 business days if you are rebuilding a ‘replacement building’ - the same house in the same location. Applications will need to be ‘performance assessed’ if you rebuild a substantially different house or in a different location.
Once your designer or builder has completed your plans, building approval can be sought from either your council or a private certifier.
Free services
South Australia’s Recovery website provides advice and access to current free resources.
Contact Planning and Land Use Services or your local council for assistance and free preliminary advice.
Contacts
For bushfire rebuilding, planning, and building application advice contact :
Planning and Land Use Services (PLUS)
Level 10, 83 Flinders Street, Adelaide
Phone: 1800 752 664
Email: PlanSA@sa.gov.au
SA Country Fire Service
37 Richmond Road, Keswick
Phone: 8115 3300
