Brisbane Small Lot Code, deck building 1.5m side setback

**BrissyBrew** · 13th March 2007, 09:31 PM

Hi I am new to this forum, have only been reading it for a few days. I am planning on renovating a Queenslander. I am located in Brisbane City Council area. Because the width of my lot is less than 15m my lot comes under the Small Lots Code for Brisbane City Council purposes.

I want to extend a deck at the back of the house to be the full width of the house. However the minimum side setback allowed is 1500mm. The house which is pre-existing is only 700mm from the side, which is ok, however the catch is I wanted to extend the deck out the back in line with the side of the house. I really don’t want to have to step the deck in 800mm as it will look funny if not inline with the rest of the house, not to mention the roofline. I can’t seem to find any information on applying for building relaxations for small lots. If anybody has some information or can point me in the right direction it would be appreciated.

cheers
frank

ps
The only other thing I might investigate is if the setback applies to steps and if I could widen the 800mm notice inwards on the side wall to put some steps in the rebated area instead.

**ausdesign** · 14th March 2007, 08:56 AM

My understanding is that stairs can encroach on the setback up to within 900mm of the boundfary which possibly doesn't help much.
The other stumbling block may be a requirement to 'screen' the deck to prevent overlooking.
I'd ring a local certifier & make a general enquiry if no one else can help with exact advice.

**null & void** · 14th March 2007, 11:30 PM

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC

ASE:

c=PC_1302 <-- stupid icons (its on their website)

You'll have to consider how close the neighbours house is, and if the side you yout house is on the southern-side you may have shadow problems in winter onto your neighbours yard.

I'm looking into the same thing at them moment but I'm not a small lot.

Spoke to council and they siad to get a council certifier to fill out the forms and stuff.

**Theremin** · 16th March 2007, 01:34 PM

From memory, you need to have something like 75% of the view blocked out on the sides of the deck facing the neighbours up to 1.8m high. For example - see photo.

**BrissyBrew** · 16th March 2007, 05:10 PM

I did some calling around, two certifiers I spoke to advised me that you can not apply for a planning relaxation under the small lot code. I spoke to a town planner who advised me that an impact application is necessary to gain approval for the proposal. The council application fee is about $1500.00 and the professional fees and advertising is an additional $1650.00. These costs do not including building approval.

**Spelunx** · 16th March 2007, 09:27 PM

*warning blatant thread hijack*

Got any more pictures of that deck Theremin? I would like a good look at that ballustrading, as it is has inspired me to make the top rail on my deck more user-friendly. ie, it looks like the perfect size to rest a beer on.

If you have any more, please post them here, or else pm me and I can give you my email address.

Cheers, I would really appreciate it.

Jayson

**BrissyBrew** · 18th March 2007, 07:35 AM

I did some calling around, two certifiers I spoke to advised me that you can not apply for a planning relaxation under the small lot code. I spoke to a town planner who advised me that an impact application is necessary to gain approval for the proposal. The council application fee is about $1500.00 and the professional fees and advertising is an additional $1650.00. These costs do not including building approval.

**Theremin** · 18th March 2007, 04:39 PM

Sure, here's another one. It is great for resting drinks, plates etc on. A downside is that if the rain blows in then the water will sit on it a bit, which of course is not a good thing. So you wouldn't do this sort of balustrade if it is going to be exposed to the weather.

**Spelunx** · 18th March 2007, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by Theremin

Sure, here's another one. It is great for resting drinks, plates etc on. A downside is that if the rain blows in then the water will sit on it a bit, which of course is not a good thing. So you wouldn't do this sort of balustrade if it is going to be exposed to the weather.

Cheers for that. Good point about the weather. My deck is going to face west, straight into the rough winter rain. It will have a roof over, with some over-hang, but it will be far from weather-proof.

One detail I can't pick up is how the ballisters are attached to the top-rail. Is it rebated into the rail, or did you use a 20 x 20 under the top to nail into?

Thanks again for the pics, can't wait for Easter to get into the actual building, rather than all this planning!

**Theremin** · 18th March 2007, 09:22 PM

One detail I can't pick up is how the ballisters are attached to the top-rail. Is it rebated into the rail, or did you use a 20 x 20 under the top to nail into?

They are rebated into the top rail.

**Spelunx** · 19th March 2007, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by Theremin

They are rebated into the top rail.

Cheers for that.

I have decided to hedge my bets, and go for a slightly wider top-rail, made from structural pine, rounded off with my router.

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