Tempe Building Designer & Draftsman | Homes and Extensions

Do I need council approval for a new home in Tempe?
Indeed, a new home almost invariably requires a development application, subject to Willoughby’s parameters for height, floor space ratio, setback, and landscaping. The unique challenges of Tempe, such as sloping terrain and tree canopies, often enforce additional criteria in custom home designs. We preemptively review site conditions and applicable controls prior to initiating project drawings.

What’s involved in extending an older Tempe home?
Expansions generally require permits, especially when adding a second floor or altering the property’s footprint. Our home extension drafting for Tempe initiates with precise measurements of the existing structure, ensuring cohesion with existing roofs, floor levels, and established frameworks before envisioning new walls or windows.

Can I build a granny flat on my Tempe property?
In most circumstances, yes, with the determining factor being the applicable permitting route. A secondary dwelling that complies with the guidelines on size, setbacks, and private open spaces of a standard Tempe block may pursue a complying development certificate. Yet, if there are deep inclinations or heritage or tree restrictions, our granny flat drafting shifts focus to a comprehensive development application.

Do backyard studios need approval around Tempe?
Small constructions can sometimes proceed as exempt development, but only if they adhere to standards regarding height, dimensions, boundary distances, and zoning. Our outdoor building drafting service scrutinises whether your Tempe property qualifies under these norms, providing clarity on the necessary approval pathway before conceptual plans commence.

What does a Tempe pool application need to cover?
Councils review pools on aspects like setbacks, excavation, drainage, and pool fencing compliance. The gradient of a Tempe yard introduces further complexities, adding drainage and level considerations. Our pool drafting service resolves these facets—shell positioning, surrounding fences, and excavation criteria—prior to submission, precluding hold-ups during council review.

Why do so many Tempe projects need a retaining wall?
Numerous Tempe properties descend towards the Lane Cove valley, necessitating retaining walls in most backyard endeavours. Our retaining wall drafting details height, materials, footings, and drainage requirements that engineers certify and councils demand for walls above certain heights or close to boundary lines.

Does a deck or pergola need council approval in Tempe?
Approval requirements depend on the elevation, location, and visibility to neighbours. Constructing elevated decks on close-set Tempe blocks can quickly reveal privacy and overshadowing concerns, prompting our deck and pergola drafting to solve elevation, screening, and boundary issues before submission.

Can I build a garage on a narrow Tempe block?
Frequently feasible, especially when determining the interplay of the building line, street trees, and driveways along narrower frontages. Our garage drafting service first verifies the maximum permissions available on a Tempe frontage, dictating whether a full application or a complying development certificate governs the project.

Do I need approval to add a new driveway or crossover?
Yes, alterations affecting vehicle access, gradients, or kerbs require approval, with input from both council and road authorities. Standards cover gradient transitions, sight lines, and drainage, making our driveway drafting for Tempe align plans with regulatory expectations during initial submission.

Is a carport exempt development in this area?
Sometimes, but forward-positioned carports are strictly regulated and approvals vary by street around Tempe. Our carport drafting initially determines permissible frontage conditions, then we document an appropriately styled carport, conforming to both house aesthetics and relevant pathways.

Does a kitchen renovation need council sign-off?
Renovations maintaining the existing floor layout often avoid development applications, but structural changes, wall removals, or extended areas usually necessitate them. Our kitchen drafting service for Tempe homes clarifies wall removals, fresh openings, and service relocations, enabling continues workflows for builders and cabinetmakers.

What does bathroom drafting cover for a Tempe home?
In Tempe’s older residences, bathroom improvements typically involve relocating walls or repurposing hallway spaces more than expanding. Our bathroom drafting service presents the redesigned layout, positioning of new fixtures, and waterproofing specifications ensuring trades execute accurately without improvisation.

Can you handle DA and CC lodgement with Willoughby Council?
Yes, our drafting service for Tempe properties oversees the entire DA and CC application process, managing any supplementary information requests from the council or certifier. Should the project qualify as complying development, we can opt for a private certifier, generally hastening approval processes.