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Pre Building Check
Council and building approvals vary in different countries, regions and states. It is the responsibility of the buyer on MyPropHub to ensure all due diligence, site and council checks are completed prior to purchase.
This page provides a range of information to consider when building a new property and purchasing a design on MyPropHub.
Have you Checked?
Designer License Area
Check that the design you have chosen on MyPropHub, has been completed by an Architect, Building Designer or Draftsperson licensed to produce drawings in your country or state. This information is listed on each design listing on MyPropHub.
A qualified Architect, Building Designer or Draftsperson is only licensed within certain countries or states.
If the designer you have chosen is not licensed in your local area, you can still purchase the design but you will need to contact a local licensed Architect, Building Designer or Draftsperson, have them sign off on your plans and include their company details on the drawings. (additional fees may apply).
Contact MyPropHub if you have any questions.
Site Plan
A Site Plan is required for Building & Council permit purposes and can be added in the check-out cart upon purchase.
For the designer on MyPropHub to be able to produce a Site Plan for your project, they will require a site survey to be completed by a licensed surveyor. This is often provided to buyers by their land developer but it may need to be purchased at your own expense.
When a surveyor completes a site survey for you, simply upload the site survey into your MyPropHub profile. The site details are drawn onto the final working drawings by the designer on MyPropHub, who will then provide you with a site plan.
To obtain a quote for surveyors, simply select the add-on during the check-out process with any design purchase on MyPropHub.
A site plan may include:
- Property boundary lines, size and angles
- Site Area size
- Locations of existing structures if applicable
- Site slope & contours
- North Point
- Services - Sewer, Stormwater, Water, Gas & Telecommunications
- Trees
- Flood information (if applicable)
- Non-structural information (location of pools, fences, etc.)
- Access information (roads, driveway, crossovers, etc.)
- Easements
A Site Plan is used by council to determine if a structure can be built on a property in accordance with state and local regulations to provide you with a building approval.

Builder
Have you contacted your preferred builder and discussed your project yet?
Your builder may be able to answer technical questions, assist with the approvals process and manage your project.
If do not have a builder, MyPropHub may be able to recommend builders in your area who can provide you with a free construction quote. Simply select the building quote option with any design purchased on MyPropHub.

Property Design Checklist
The MyPropHub property design checklist will assist you understand key areas to consider when designing your home, such as;
- Site Pan
- Site Survey
- Environmental
- Design Fit
- Development Approval
- Local council requirements
Download your free copy now.
Construction
Building Quotes
We recommend you obtain at least 2-3 Building Quotes for your project.
If do not have a builder, please contact MyPropHub as we may have recommended builders in your area who can provide you with a construction quote or simply select the building quote option with any design purchased on MyPropHub.
Your builder may be able to answer technical questions, assist with the approvals process and manage your project.
Codes & Standards
Will your project comply with local building codes and standards?
If your designer is licensed and registered in your intended construction area, they will understand your local building codes and standards. If you are unsure if a design complies, we recommend you speak to your local council, private certifier or town planner.
Contact MyPropHub if you require further assistance.
Materials
Choose your building fixtures & finishes wisely to ensure they last the test of time.
MyPropHub drawings contain basic finishes information, however specific finish and fixture details will need to be chosen by yourself or your builder.
Council
Design Fit
Have you checked your local council regulations or spoken to a licensed certifier, town planner or builder to ensure you can build your preferred design on your site?
The key areas to check that your preferred design is permitted on your site include:
- Will the design fit on your site?
- Minimum setback distances to the front, side and rear boundaries?
- Overall site coverage allowed?
- Maximum number of storeys/levels?
- Maximum building height?
- Does the garage/driveway need to be on a certain side of the property?
- Is there a covenant on the site that may require certain design elements and rules to be followed? (Generally new land developments only)
- Does the facade need to be of a specific style or include certain material finishes?
Preparing
Gaining building approval requires design & structural engineering drawings, structural engineering compliance documents and council forms to be completed before construction can begin. Some councils also require the builder’s details to be indicated on the forms or given to your private certifier or town planner. The rules are not always the same between council areas, so it is important to check before purchasing a design.
All residential building work involving a new home requires a building approval. Building approvals have different names in each country and state. In Australia for example, there may also be an extra step required. This is called a Development Approval (DA). Speak to your local council, certifier or town planner if you are unsure.
A building approval must be obtained before any building work can commence, and generally includes;
- Design drawings showing how the home will be built.
- The technical details of the construction, including materials to be used.
- Building Code information and compliance.
In addition to the standard drawing sheets sold on MyProphub with every design, you will also require:
- A site survey - produced by a surveyor
- A site plan - provided by the designer on MyPropHub (additional fees apply)
- Structural engineering drawings. This can be purchased through MyPropHub (additional fees apply)
- A soil test (provided to the structural engineer)
For the designer on MyPropHub to be able to produce a Site Plan for your project, they will require a site survey to be completed by a licensed building surveyor. This is often provided to buyers by their land developer but it may need to be purchased at your own expense.
When a building surveyor completes a site survey, these site details are drawn onto the final working drawings by the designer on MyPropHub, who will then provide you with a site plan.
When purchasing a design on MyPropHub simply select - Site Plan, Structural Engineer, surveyor and/or building quote with any design purchase in the check out process. MyPropHub may be able to connect you with a 3rd party partner in your local area.
A Development Approval (DA) may also be required. We recommend you speak to your local council, certifier or town planner prior to purchasing as there may be additional costs involved to complete the drawings for Development Approval (DA)
Town Planners are recommended to prepare and submit the application for a DA on behalf of the owner. Town Planners are professionals that understand the local council requirements for designing a new home and can assist in making the approval process as smooth as possible. Speaking to a town planner early in the design purchase process is a good idea the site is difficult to build on or if you are unsure about the regulations.
Contact MyPropHub if you require further assistance.
Requirements
Have you checked with your local council to see if there are any additional or specific requirements to gain approval for new buildings in your area?
Some examples include:
- Are you allowed to have a modern façade in your area?
- Does the driveway need to be on a certain side of your property?
- Are any additional drawings required? (View Drawing Examples)
We recommend you visit your local council’s website to find out more.
Environmental
Depending on where your site is located you may need to consider environmental impacts, include;
- Trees that cannot be removed on your site
- Threatened species
- Native vegetation
- Sea level rise & local flooding.
- Overland water flow path
- Bushfire management
- Sediment and erosion control and waste management
- Acoustic issues
Speak with your local council or town planner if you are not sure about environmental impacts.
Additional consultants may be required. (additional fees will apply)
Specific Documentation
Additional documentation you may be required to provide council includes;
- Structural-engineering drawings & report
- Structural-adequacy certificate
- Geotechnical report and soil testing
- Other engineering such as Hydraulic, Civil, Hydraulic, Fire or Acoustic. These are normally for larger projects only.
- Site Survey. Some councils require neighboring properties to be shown on the drawings
- Surveys that show identification points on the dwelling during construction
- Building specification
- Landscaping plan
- Sediment control plan
- Schedule of colours and materials
- Heritage-impact statement
- Energy rating or efficiency report
- Shadow and sun studies
- Town-planning report
- Bushfire requirements
Contact MyPropHub if you require further assistance, we recommend speaking to your local council or builder prior to purchasing.
Approval Process
Council Approval Process
The council approval process varies in every country, state and even local council. It is important to ask council if a Development Approval (DA) is required for your new project.
- In most cases, you will not require a Development Application (DA) and can use MyPropHub drawings without any issues or delays.
- If you require a Development Application (DA) you will need to engage the services of a town planner. This may require additional drawings to be purchased through MyPropHub. For example, Shadow / Sun Study, Landscaping and open space plans.
The process of receiving a DA can take longer than a standard approval, as each DA must be scrutinised carefully by council before approval is granted.
The time it takes for approval will depend on your building location. If your design does not receive Development Approval, you may need to engage the designer on MyPropHub to make any required design changes. These will need to be quoted individually on a case by case basis.
All designs purchased on MyPropHub are non-refundable but our designers are experienced working with council and can make changes to the drawings for DA requirements. Due diligence is required by the buyer prior to purchasing to ensure the design is suitable for the site.
For example, a duplex may not be allowed to be built on certain sites or a house may be too large for a certain area.
Builders can also assist in the DA process, so we recommend you engage a builder early in the process.
Contact MyPropHub if you require any assistance.
Other Checks
Services
You may need to consider if there are any services on your site which may prevent you using a design purchased on MyPropHub, for example:
- Is there a sewer line or Manhole that cannot be built over on your site?
- Where is the water, electricity, stormwater, gas, or telecommunication lines located?
- Does the driveway need to be on a certain side of your site and therefore affect the garage location?
We recommend you engage a qualified surveyor to locate these services and speak with your local council to find out more.
Surveyor
A surveyor is a licensed professional who measures and maps the environment. In the residential construction industry, a building surveyor can provide several services such as providing a site survey or surveyors report:
A site survey maps & determines the suitability for building on a site and is completed by a registered surveyor.
A site survey can contain the following information:
- Site area size.
- Property lines.
- Locations of existing and adjoining structures.
- Site contours/slopes.
- Trees
- Flood information (if applicable).
- Non-structural information (location of fences, retaining walls etc)
- Access information (roads, driveways, etc.)
- Easements.
- North Point.
- Services locations.
A site survey is required to:
- Locate, mark out property boundary lines and calculate the site area & building envelope
- Determine site contours prior to construction
- Locate site services locations. Eg. Sewer line
- Obtain a Development Approval or Building Permit
- For Subdivisions
- For a designer to produce a site plan
Surveyors play a key role to ensure that a building project can gain approval for construction.
To obtain a quote for surveyors, simply select the add-on during the check-out process with any design purchase on MyPropHub or directly from local surveyors.
View more information on Surveyors

Structural Engineer
A structural engineer is a licensed professional who designs the structural elements of your project and is critical for the building approval and construction process.
Structural engineers also require a soil report to be able to complete their drawings.
Structural engineering drawings may include:
- Concrete slab & footing details
- Floor framing details
- Roof & wall framing details
- Tie down details
- Bracing details
Designs purchased on MyPropHub do not come with structural engineering drawings and will need to be purchased separately, once a design, site plan and land has been purchased.
When purchasing a design on MyPropHub, simply select "Structural Engineer" with any design purchase in the check out process and MyPropHub will connect you with a structural engineer in your local area.
View more information on Structural Engineers.
Important
No refunds. MyPropHub does not offer refunds to customers who choose an incorrect design or cannot gain council approval. It is the responsibility of the buyer to ensure all council, site, due diligence, and other relevant checks are completed prior to purchase.
If the quality of documentation is not to industry standards or incorrect, the designer will be required to rectify any mistakes at their own expense.
FAQs
Q. Can I modify a design?
Yes, all designs on MyPropHub can be modified to suit your requirements for an agreed upfront price.
Simply choose your design and follow the modify design steps to generate a brief for your designer, who will then confirm an agreed price prior to commencing work, based on the number of hours it will take to complete the modifications.
Q. What is included when I buy a design?
The preliminary minimum working drawing sheets include:
- Floor plan
- 4 x External elevations
- Roof plan
- 2 sections
- Door and window schedule
View example sets of drawings.
Additional sheets of documentation can be requested for additional fees including:
- Site plan (Survey to be provided by the buyer in pdf and dwg format, additional fees apply)
- Cad files of site, floor, and roof plans. For engineering purposes only
- Electrical and lighting plans
- Mirror design
- Shadow and sun diagrams
- Additional building sections
- Slab layout plan
- 1:50 kitchen and bathroom plans & elevation drawings
- Reflected ceiling plans
- Wet area details
Q. What is a design Modification?
Examples of design modifications include:
Minor design changes (0-2 hours)
- Move doors or windows
- Changing door or window sizes
- Moving items within a room such as swapping a toilet and shower location within a bathroom or swapping a sink and cooktop location in a kitchen
- Changing room names
- Change wall, floor or roof finishes
Moderate Design Changes (2-5 hours)
- Adjust room sizes
- Moderate changes to overall building size. Less than 20% overall width, length or size increase/decrease
- Ceiling height change
- Roof pitch change
- Roof style change
- Move 1 room location
- Add extra room
- Change floor and wall structure and size
Major Design Changes (5-10 hours)
- Mirror design
- Façade style change
- Adding more than 1 room
- Move 2 or more room locations
- Converting design from flat block of land to sloping block of land compatible
Extensive design changes (10 + hours)
- Adding an additional level to the building
- Re-design of internal layout
- Extensive change to overall building size. 50% overall size increase/decrease
Q. Are designs on MyPropHub council approved?
No. Designs listed on MyPropHub are not council or construction approved.
Prior to the buyer submitting any council or building applications using designs purchased on MyPropHub, the buyer will be required to provide a site survey for the designer on MyPropHub to produce a site plan for the project.
A site survey can be obtained from a licensed Surveyor. Add a site plan to any design purchase in the check out process and upload a site survey on MyPropHub, and the designer will produce a site plan for your project.
MyPropHub can connect you with qualified Surveyors, Builders and Structural Engineers, simply select the option when purchasing a design.
Please refer to the pre-build check which provides information, tools and resources to assist you to use designs purchased on MyPropHub for your construction project.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Check that the design you have chosen on MyPropHub, has been completed by an Architect, Building Designer or Draftsperson licensed to produce drawings in your country or state. This information is listed on every individual design listing on MyPropHub.
A qualified Architect, Building Designer or Draftsperson is only licensed within certain countries or states and can only produce approval drawings within this area.
If the designer you have chosen is not licensed in your local area, all you need to do is contact a local licensed Architect, Building Designer or Draftsperson and have them sign off on your plans once purchased (additional fees may apply).
We recommend you speak to your local government, regulatory authority and builder regarding your site constraints.
No refunds are provided for incorrect choice and MyPropHub takes no liability or guarantee for building approval for any design sold, due diligence is the buyers responsibility and liability to ensure designs comply with local council and regularity requirements prior to purchasing.
Please contact MyPropHub if you have any questions.
Q. How long does it take to receive my drawings following purchase?
will be completed within 4 business days following payment and the site survey provided to the designer on MyPropHub.
Delivery timelines for design modifications and other drawing sets are negotiated during the quoting process, a guide is below:
- Minor Design changes = 2 business days following completion of working drawings
- Moderate Design changes = 4 business days following completion of working drawings
- Major Design changes = 7 business days following completion of working drawings
Q. Who owns the copyright to the designs?
The Designer owns the copyright & Intellectual Property for their design.
Buyers will only be purchasing the rights to the design for a single building use. Buyers will be subject to international copyright laws if they copy, modify, or use a design without written permission from the designer.
Q. Are refunds available if I change my mind after purchasing a design?
No. MyPropHub does not offer refunds to customers who choose an incorrect design or cannot gain council approval. It is the responsibility of the buyer to ensure all council, site, due diligence, and other relevant checks are completed prior to purchase.
If the quality of documentation is not to industry standards or is incorrect, the designer will be required to rectify any mistakes at their own expense.
Please contact MyPropHub if you have any questions.