South Australia — Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016
Building Rules Consent
Building Rules Consent is the technical half of development approval in South Australia. We assess your documentation against the National Construction Code and the Building Rules, identify anything that does not yet demonstrate compliance, and issue consent once it does so the approval can be granted.
What it is
Development approval in South Australia has two parts: Planning Consent, which deals with land use, siting and appearance, and Building Rules Consent, which deals with how the building is actually constructed. PBC issues the Building Rules Consent. Both parts must be in place before the relevant authority can grant development approval.
Who needs it
Almost all building work in South Australia requires Building Rules Consent — new dwellings, additions and alterations, commercial fitouts, multi-residential and industrial buildings, and most structures such as carports, verandahs, decks and pools.
What we assess
The assessment covers every technical discipline the Code touches, in one review rather than a series of disconnected sign-offs.
- Structural adequacy and design certification
- Fire safety, separation and egress
- Access for people with disability
- Energy efficiency and thermal performance
- Health, amenity, ventilation and sanitary provisions
Where a performance solution fits
Where a design cannot meet the Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions, compliance can be demonstrated against the relevant Performance Requirements instead. As the certifier we assess the Performance Solution — we do not prepare it. Preparing it is the role of your design team or a specialist consultant such as a fire or access engineer, and keeping those roles separate is what allows us to assess it independently. We will tell you early where one appears to be needed so it can be commissioned without holding up the assessment.
Common questions
Is Building Rules Consent the same as development approval?
No. It is one of the two consents that make up development approval. Planning Consent covers land use and siting; Building Rules Consent covers construction. Approval is granted once both are in place.
Can you start before Planning Consent is granted?
Yes. We can begin the Building Rules assessment in parallel, which usually shortens the overall approval timeline. Consent is issued in the correct order.
What happens if the documentation doesn't comply?
We set out in writing exactly what does not comply and which provision of the Code or Building Rules it relates to. Deciding how to resolve it is a matter for your design team — as the assessing certifier we identify the non-compliance rather than design the fix, which is what keeps the assessment independent. Once amended documentation is provided, we reassess it.