Illegal building works
Illegal building works
If you suspect building works are being carried out without the required approval, you can report the issue to Council for investigation.
Last updated on: 30 March 2026
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Some types of development can be carried out without development consent if they meet the criteria for Exempt Development. Other, more complex development may need approval under Complying Development (CDC) or assessment and approval under a Development Application (DA).
If you witness building works or activity on a neighbouring property that may not have the required approval, you can report the issue to Council to investigate.
Before lodging a request, you can check on Council's website to confirm whether approval is required or if the works have an active consent. Council's DA Tracking service shows applications lodged, including DAs, CDCs and Construction Certificates (CCs).
You can view DA plans through this service. To access CDC and CC documents, you will need to apply for informal access once you have a reference number.
More information
You can find more information about when approval is required, issued consents and accessing Council records on Council's website:
Please note: This request type is only for illegal works, undertaken without consent. If approval exists but you believe the works are not complying with the conditions, submit a request under Construction works non-compliance.
Submit a request
If possible, before you lodge a complaint, consider speaking with the property owner to discuss your concerns. If this is not possible, or talking to your neighbour doesn't help, please submit your request below for Council to investigate.
Please note: You are strongly encouraged to provide your contact details in case we require further information in relation to your request. In some cases, if we have insufficient information, we will not be able to investigate.
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