How To Get House Plans From Council

You're renovating, selling, or just trying to answer a simple question like where that old sewer runs, and suddenly you realise you don't have a copy of the original drawings. Pretty normal. Councils do hold a lot of this material and, with the right request, you can usually get what you need. In this guide I'll show you precisely how, with Melbourne examples and a few insider tips.

By the way, if you arrived here after typing 'how to get house plans from council', you're in the right place. We'll keep it simple and practical.

The Quick Answer

There are three main paths to get plans, depending on the type of document and who you are.

Building plans and permit documents. Ask your local council for a Regulation 51 building property enquiry or a building plans and documentation search. In Victoria, councils can provide building permit history and copies of plans on request, subject to ownership and copyright rules.

Planning permit plans. Many councils let anyone view planning application documents online. To get copies of endorsed plans, though, you generally need to be the owner or have the owner's written consent.

Apartments and townhouses. Your owners corporation should hold key records for the life of the building, including building plans and specifications for common property. The manager can provide copies to entitled owners for a regulated fee.

Step-by-Step: From Zero to a PDF in Your Inbox

1) Work Out Who to Ask

Start with your local council's building department. In Victoria, building permits are issued by either a private building surveyor or a municipal (council) building surveyor, and Section 30 of the Building Act requires the relevant building surveyor to lodge copies of permits and plans with council, usually within seven days. So even when a private surveyor issued the permit, council often holds the file.

If you are unsure which council you belong to, check your rates notice or use an online property search, then head to the council website's planning or building pages. For example, the City of Melbourne has a central 'Planning and building property enquiries' page with links to building plan searches.

2) Decide What You Actually Need

There are two families of documents:

Planning: site plans, shadow diagrams and reports used to assess whether a proposal fits the planning scheme. Public to view, but copies of endorsed plans generally need owner consent.

Building: technical drawings and specifications that show how the building complies with the Building Regulations. These sit behind the building permit and are what most homeowners mean by "house plans".

3) Gather Proof and Authority

Victorian councils usually release building plans only to the owner or someone with written authority from the owner, because of privacy and copyright. Expect to provide ID plus a rates notice or title, and attach an owner authority letter if you are a designer, builder or buyer's agent. Councils like Glen Eira and the City of Melbourne state this explicitly, referencing the Building Regulations.

Tip for buyers: if you are mid-transaction, ask the vendor to sign an authority so your designer can order the file now, not after settlement.

4) Lodge a Regulation 51 Request

You will see this called 'Property/Building Information' or 'Building Plan search'. Regulation 51 of the Building Regulations 2018 lets you request the building permit history, copies of occupancy permits or final certificates, and often the approved plans. Councils such as Stonnington and Moorabool describe the categories and forms on their sites.

When you apply, be clear about what you want. A simple list helps: site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, structural details, occupancy permit, and any final inspection record.

5) Pay the Fee and Allow Time

Fees vary by council and by how deep a search you need. Stonnington, for example, lists non-refundable search fees that scale from a basic permit search to detailed plan retrieval for houses, apartments or multi-unit sites. Monash says to allow up to 10 working days and sends documents electronically. Yarra has expedited timeframes for some property information certificates. Your mileage will vary, but a week or so is common.

6) Receive and Review

Most councils send files by email and, depending on age, you may get scanned PDFs that are not crystal clear. Monash explicitly notes electronic delivery, which is standard across Melbourne. If something you expected is missing, reply to the officer and ask whether the archive contains additional sheets.

What If Council Says They Do Not Have the Plans?

It happens, especially with older dwellings or where the original surveyor's records were limited.

Confirm the permit trail. Because building permits can be issued by private surveyors or council, check whether a private building surveyor was involved and contact them for the file if council's copy is thin. Councils are supposed to receive a copy, but older records are not always complete.

Check the public planning register. Even if the building file is light, planning applications frequently include drawings. Many councils let you search and view documents online.

Ask the owners corporation. For apartments and townhouses, the OC should retain plans and specifications for common property, among other "keep for life" documents. The manager can provide copies to entitled owners for a regulated fee.

Get a title and plan of subdivision. You will not get house drawings from Land Use Victoria, but a copy of title, plan of subdivision and any restrictions will help a designer recreate what is missing. LANDATA and Land Use Victoria explain how to order these.

Use Freedom of Information as a last resort. If material exists but is not routinely released, FOI lets you request access, subject to exemptions for privacy and safety. You lodge FOI with the council that holds the records.

Copyright, Privacy and Why Councils Ask for Owner Consent

Architectural and building plans are protected by copyright. Copying or re-using them without permission risks infringement. That is one reason councils require owner consent and often limit how the plans can be used. The Australian Copyright Council publishes a plain-English fact sheet, and several legal summaries explain typical risks for owners and builders who use plans beyond the licence they were given.

Councils also treat personal information carefully, so you will notice redactions and limits on what a non-owner can receive. Council forms, such as Glen Eira's, set out the owner-only rule for copies.

Melbourne Examples at a Glance

City of Melbourne: 'Planning and building property enquiries' hub with a "building plans and documentation search", available to owners or those with owner consent.

City of Monash: 'Copy of building plans' page, fees non-refundable, allow up to ten working days, delivery by email.

City of Yarra: 'Property information request' online form; separate planning and building options, with varying processing times depending on the certificate or documents sought.

City of Stonnington: detailed plan search service with a published fee schedule for different search depths.

These links change from time to time, yet the broad process stays the same across Melbourne.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Get My Neighbour's Plans?

Usually not as a copy, unless they give written consent. You can often view advertised planning plans online during the application stage, but using or copying them for other purposes is restricted.

How Long Does It Take?

As a rule of thumb, five to ten working days for a standard building plan request, depending on the council's backlog and the age of the file. Monash recommends allowing up to ten days; some Yarra certificates have a five-day pathway, although plan retrieval may differ.

How Much Does It Cost?

Expect a non-refundable search fee and, for detailed plan retrieval, a higher charge. Stonnington publishes a tiered schedule so you can budget before you apply.

Will the Plans Show Everything?

Not always. Extensions built without permits will not appear. Some older files are incomplete. If you need absolute certainty for structural work, a building surveyor or designer may still need to measure and draw the house from scratch.

What If I Am Buying and Need Plans for Due Diligence?

Ask the vendor to sign an owner authority so your representative can obtain the file before settlement. Councils accept authorised agents with written consent.

A Simple Owner Authority You Can Use

Copy and paste, then have the owner sign.

'To [Council name], I, [Owner full name] of [Property address and postcode], authorise [Your name and company, ABN if applicable, email and phone] to request and receive copies of building plans and documents for the above property, including any plans, permits, certificates and inspection records. Signed [Name], [Date].'

Attach a scan of the owner's ID and, if asked, proof of ownership such as a rates notice or title summary. Councils may vary the exact wording; check the form on their website.

Pro Tips from the Trenches

Ask what is actually held before you pay. Some councils will tell you whether a file exists, or roughly what is on it, so you can choose the right level of search. Stonnington recommends contacting them if you need more detail about plan searches; Glen Eira encourages a quick call to check availability.

Be specific. If you only need the roof framing plan or a final certificate, say so. It can speed things up and save fees.

Planning first, building second. If you are exploring a new carport or deck, a free VicPlan Planning Property Report will reveal zones and overlays, then you can decide whether planning or building is your starting line.

Title pack helps. When council asks for proof of ownership, a fresh copy of title and plan from LANDATA keeps the process smooth.

Apartments. Your owners corporation manager is a goldmine for older plans and specifications. They are expected to keep them for the life of the building.

The Slightly Nerdy Bit: The Rules That Sit Behind This

Building Regulations 2018, Regulation 51 allows you to request building information and documentation from council, including details of permits and inspections.

Building Act 1993, Section 30 requires the relevant building surveyor to give council a copy of the permit and the plans lodged with the application shortly after issue. This is why councils tend to have your file, even where a private surveyor issued it.

Owner authority and copyright. Councils often cite the Regulations and copyright as reasons to limit copies to owners or their authorised agents. The Australian Copyright Council outlines how copyright applies to building plans.

Putting It All Together

Here is the simplest Melbourne-friendly path I recommend:

1. Check your council page for "Building plan search" or "Property information request".
2. Decide whether you need planning or building documents (often both).
3. Prepare ID, a rates notice or title, and if you are not the owner, get a signed authority.
4. Lodge a Regulation 51 request and choose the appropriate search level.
5. Pay the fee, allow a week or so, and watch your inbox for the PDFs.

If that feels like a lot, you are not alone. Even seasoned professionals go in circles the first time. The key is to ask for exactly what you need and to have the authority letter ready to go.

Need a Hand with the Paperwork or a Quick Contract Sense-Check?

Pearson Chambers Conveyancing helps Melbourne buyers, sellers and renovators navigate the council maze every day. If you would like help ordering the right searches, or you want a second pair of eyes over a Section 32 before you sign, reach out for a complimentary review.

Phone: 03 9969 2405 Email: contact@pearsonchambers.com.au