Whitehorse Council Vic

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Victoria · City of Whitehorse

Building in City of Whitehorse

Your Melbourne east council approval guide

Overview

The City of Whitehorse covers 25 suburbs across Melbourne's middle-east, Box Hill, Blackburn, Burwood, Nunawading, Mitcham, Vermont, Forest Hill, Surrey Hills (part), and more. Box Hill is a Metropolitan Activity Centre with substantial mid-rise development; the surrounding residential streets are more character-sensitive.

Suburbs covered

Box HillBox Hill NorthBox Hill SouthBlackburnBlackburn NorthBlackburn SouthBurwoodBurwood EastForest HillMitchamMont AlbertMont Albert NorthNunawadingSurrey HillsVermontVermont SouthBalwyn (part)

Local considerations

Box Hill Metropolitan Activity Centre

Box Hill has significant height allowances (some sites 20+ storeys). But the surrounding residential streets remain character-controlled.

Blackburn Lake heritage precinct

Blackburn has an unusually intact interwar-era character; overlay controls are strict.

Vegetation Protection Overlay

Large sections of Whitehorse are covered by Vegetation Protection Overlays, most tree removals require a planning permit even in non-heritage areas.

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

Can I really build 20 storeys in Box Hill?

In some parts of the Box Hill Metropolitan Activity Centre, yes, though the approvals process gets serious quickly. The Box Hill Structure Plan divides the centre into precincts with mandatory and discretionary maximum heights. The tallest allowances (30-plus storeys) are on specific corner sites already targeted for renewal. Anything above about 15 storeys triggers referral to the Victorian Design Review Panel, and objections from neighbours are almost guaranteed. Budget 12 to 18 months for approvals on a mid-rise project here.

Why is Blackburn different from the rest of Whitehorse?

Blackburn has one of the most intact interwar streetscapes in Melbourne, and council has protected it hard. Multiple Heritage Overlay precincts cover the residential streets around Blackburn Lake, and the neighbourhood character policy adds another layer even outside the overlays. A design that would sail through in Vermont or Mitcham will almost certainly get sent back for revision in Blackburn. If you are buying to build here, engage a heritage-experienced architect from day one, not after you have concept drawings.

What is the Vegetation Protection Overlay actually protecting?

Native canopy trees, mostly, though the scope depends on the specific overlay schedule that applies to your property. Large parts of Blackburn, Mont Albert and Surrey Hills sit under a Vegetation Protection Overlay that requires a planning permit to remove any tree above certain height or trunk thresholds. Owners get caught out when they clear a site expecting to build, then find they cannot get a permit for a tree that has been dead-looking for three years. Get an arborist report before you demolish, not after.

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