Asset Protection Permit

Help protect our city from building work damage

When doing building work, you must follow safe building practices that protect nearby Council assets from damage. This includes:

  • footpaths
  • kerbs
  • vehicle crossovers
  • nature strips
  • drainage infrastructure
  • trees
  • and other Council assets.

The need for an Asset Protection Permit is detailed in our Community Local Law 2024.

Asset Protection Permit

Our asset protection requirements aim to provide a safe environment for the community and reduce our costs. They are included in our Community Local Law 2024.

Types of developments requiring an Asset Protection Permit:

  • One unit or house built on a single lot
  • Single dwellings
  • Garage
  • Balcony
  • Veranda
  • Swimming pool e.g. in ground, above ground and/or spa
  • Shed
  • Retaining wall
  • Demolition
  • Extension
  • Internal driveways
  • Stumping.

To submit an application for Asset Protection Permit, a non-refundable administration fee must be paid.

From 1 October 2024, an Asset Protection security bond is also payable prior to start of works.

If works begin without an Asset Protection Permit, an infringement notice will be issued.

If works begin without a permit, Council will assume all assets were in satisfactory condition prior to the works. Any damage will be attributed to the building works at your site.

Security bond

From 1 October 2024, all applicants for Asset Protection Permits must pay a security bond to protect Council assets from damage. This requirement is outlined in the Asset Protection Permit conditions and the Community Local Law 2024-2034.

Bond amount

The bond amount is determined by the type of Council assets surrounding the site. A Council officer will inspect the assets within 10 business days to determine the amount and provide you with a report.

The amount is calculated based on the site and surrounding assets. An invoice will be issued to you and must be paid before work begins.

If you would like to discuss the bond, call us on 03 9217 2170 or email assetsandfacilities@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Release of bond

When your building works are completed, including landscaping, driveways, pathways and fencing, you will be required to notify Council by completing a Completion of Works Notice.

Once we are satisfied that no damage has occurred or damage has been repaired, the bond will be fully refunded within 30 days. If there is unrepaired damage, the bond may be retained to cover repair costs. If the bond is insufficient to cover repairs, you will be required to pay the difference.

Ongoing projects

If another party takes over the project, they must apply for a new Asset Protection Permit and pay their own bond before your bond is released.

Apply for Asset Protection Permit

A completed permit application form should be submitted 28 days prior to the start date.

You can apply for the permit in one of three ways:

Online:

Apply for the Asset Protection Permit online

Mail:

Mail your form to:

City Design and Transport
City of Whittlesea
Locked Bag 1
Bundoora MDC, VIC 3083

Email:

You can email your form at:

assetsandfacilities@whittlesea.vic.gov.au 

Please note that application fees for the Asset Protection Permit and Front Load Bin Permit are not refundable. A security bond is payable for all Asset Protection Permits under the Community Local Law 2024-2034.

Front Load Bin Permit

Unless you hold a Skip Bin Permit you must not place front load bins or other bulk front load bins on a road, nature strip, reserve or other Council land.

Learn more about Skip Bin permits

Building sites less than 300 m

Building sites that are less than 300 m2 can apply for a waste container permit to be placed outside the construction site and comply with all permit conditions.

This permit is in addition to the Asset Protection Permit, and helps reduce damage caused to nature strips.

Building sites more than 300 m

From 1 January 2024, we’ll no longer issue permits to allow front load bins outside a construction site.

This applies to properties that are 300 m2 or greater in size. These properties will need to store front load bins within the boundaries of the building site.

If fees have already been paid for waste containers to be stored outside the building site, these arrangements will stay in place until the building works are completed.

Builders of new residential dwellings

Builders of new residential dwellings should follow the same application steps but use the Front Load Bin Permit application form instead of the Skip Bin Permit application form.

Builders will need to pay a separate permit fee for each bin that will remain throughout the construction period.

Download the Front Load Bin Permit application form