Moorabool Shire Council is currently in caretaker mode due to upcoming Council elections.
Our offices and libraries will be closed on Friday. For urgent enquiries, you can contact us 24/7 on 5366 7100.There will be no changes to bin collection or transfer station hours. Please put your bins out as usual.The Customer Service counter at Lerderderg Library will also be closed on Saturday 28 September. Library services will be open on Saturday as per usual.
A verandah is a roofed structure that is typically attached to a home or another building/structure such as a shed. It is the roofing/cladding that separates a verandah from a pergola.
All verandahs require a building permit.
A pergola is an open structure that is unroofed. It may have a covering of open-weave, permeable material. (A shade structure such as a shade sail would fit in this category).
A pergola (or shade structure/sail) does not require a building permit, as long as it meets the following criteria:
Note: Many shade sails have a portion/corner that are higher than 3.6m which would trigger the need for a building permit. Many are also greater than 20m2 which would also trigger the need for a building permit so it is important to be careful about the size of any shade sails.
A gazebo (or cabana) is usually a free-standing structure that has a roof. A building permit IS required when constructing a gazebo. (There are some exemptions for very small non-habitable structures/buildings less than 10m2 in size).
Distinguishing the differences between the above-mentioned structures (especially siting matters) can be tricky and if you are unsure, then please contact Council’s Building Services Team.
For further information, please see the attached PDF document provided by the VBA.
When is a Building Permit Required?(PDF, 254KB)