Maroondah Council Vic

Building in Maroondah

Your Melbourne outer-east council approval guide

George Giannakakis, Founder, BuildPilot
By George Giannakakis · Founder
B.Arch.Studies · M.Arch (UniSA) · RLA300580 · Reviewed

Overview

Maroondah City Council covers Melbourne's outer east, Ringwood, Croydon, Heathmont, Ringwood East, Croydon Hills, Warranwood and Bayswater North. It is an established, knockdown-rebuild and townhouse market, with major activity-centre redevelopment around Ringwood (Realm and the Eastland precinct) and vegetation and significant-landscape controls stronger toward the leafier eastern suburbs.

Suburbs covered

RingwoodCroydonHeathmontRingwood EastCroydon HillsWarranwoodBayswater North

Building in these suburbs

RingwoodCroydonHeathmont

Local considerations

Ringwood activity centre

The Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre around Eastland and Realm carries built-form and height controls; apartment and mixed-use projects face discretionary assessment.

Vegetation + landscape overlays

Croydon Hills, Warranwood and leafier pockets carry Vegetation Protection and Significant Landscape overlays; tree removal and hillside siting can trigger a planning permit.

Townhouse + dual occupancy market

Ringwood, Croydon and Heathmont see steady townhouse and dual-occupancy activity; the Townhouse and Low-Rise Code deemed-to-comply pathway applies.

Building Permit Process (Victoria)

Victoria separates planning permits (about land use, from your council) and building permits (about construction methods, from a Relevant Building Surveyor). You usually need the planning permit FIRST, then the building permit.

  1. Check zoning + overlays

    Use VicPlan (planning-schemes.app.planning.vic.gov.au) or your council's interactive map to identify the zone, any heritage overlay, character area, environmental overlay or growth area zone that applies to your block.

  2. Planning permit (if required)

    If your project needs a planning permit (most heritage / character-area / larger developments do), lodge with your council. VicSmart is a fast-tracked pathway available for some minor applications.

  3. Appoint a Relevant Building Surveyor (RBS)

    The RBS must be appointed by the OWNER (not the builder). Choose either a municipal or private building surveyor. This is a legal requirement in VIC.

  4. Building Permit Number (BPN) via BAMS

    Your RBS applies for a 13-digit BPN through the Building Activity Management System (BAMS). Since 26 November 2025 a new formula for the Calculated Cost of Works (CoW) applies. New BAMS reporting fields (including mandatory architect status) took effect 20 March 2026.

  5. Building Permit Levy

    Required for works costing over $10,000. Rate: 0.00064 general levy + 0.00064 DBDRV levy of the CoW. Pay via the BPC secure portal (BPAY or card). Your RBS cannot issue the permit until the BPN is received.

  6. Construction, inspections + occupancy

    Build proceeds under RBS inspection at prescribed stages. On completion, the RBS issues an Occupancy Permit (or Certificate of Final Inspection for extensions).

State Building Fees (VIC 2026-27)

These are STATE fees, identical across every Melbourne council. Your council may charge additional planning-permit application fees on top, see per-council notes below.

Building Permit Levy, general0.00064 × CoW (works > $10,000)
Building Permit Levy, DBDRV0.00064 × CoW (works > $10,000)
Metropolitan Planning Levy (larger dev only)$1,344,000 threshold (2026-27); pay to SRO
Owner-builder Certificate of Consent (works > $16,000)BPC application; approx. 45 business days processing

Typical Timelines (Melbourne average)

Straightforward planning permit (VicSmart)10 to 30 business days
Standard planning permit (no objections)60 to 90 days
Complex / heritage / notified planning permit3 to 8 months
Building permit (once planning approved)2 to 4 weeks
Owner-builder Certificate of Consent~45 business days

Frequently asked questions

What kind of building market is Maroondah?

Established and rebuild-driven. Ringwood, Croydon and Heathmont see knockdown rebuilds, townhouses and dual occupancies, while Ringwood's activity centre supports apartments. Leafier eastern pockets carry vegetation and landscape overlays that can require a planning permit.

Do I need a planning permit for a townhouse project in Maroondah?

Two or more dwellings need a planning permit assessed under Clause 55 and the Townhouse and Low-Rise Code, with the garden area rule on lots 400sqm and over. Vegetation overlays may add requirements in leafier areas. Confirm your block on VicPlan and with Maroondah City Council.

What locals know about Maroondah City Council

Famous for

Ringwood is a Metropolitan Activity Centre. Height limits near Eastland change street by street; check yours before you assume two storeys is the ceiling.

Every council's quirk

Suburbs we have profiled here

Ringwood

Problems that turn up in inspection reports here

Reactive clay and cracked wallsAsbestos in the eaves, walls and fence

Statewide rules people blame on council

  • •New residential gas connections banned from 2024. Replacements on existing gas are still allowed.
  • •Pools and spas must be registered with council and certified every 4 years.
  • •Sheds, carports and verandahs over 10m² generally need a building permit; some also need a planning permit depending on the zone and overlays.

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