OUR WHY
At Haven Design, we get it—navigating the world of building approvals can be frustrating. For too many years, our industry has made it unnecessarily complicated to get permits and approvals, leaving our customers to struggle through a painful process.
We knew it didn't have to be like this so we created a much better pathway.
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Our customers trust us to deliver an expert, reliable, professional & responsive experience to guide them through compliance. We’ve combined plan drafting, permit lodgement, town planning, and building surveyors into a single, seamless service. We have assembled a champion team of industry know how!
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Share your vision.
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We guide you through compliance.
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Enjoy a seamless experience.
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You bring the inspiration—we bring the expertise to get your ideas drawn and approved with zero stress. We handle the red tape so you can focus on what matters most: bringing your vision to life without all the industry headaches.
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WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT & WHY YOU DESERVE NOTHING LESS?
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We achieve our professionally high level of service by holding a first in first served policy. We only take on 20 new permit customers each month. Once this quota is full we start adding to the quota of the next available month. Other permit organisations take on way to many customers without the resources to best serve them. Havens reputation & positive reviews are the result of staying small & focused so we can be in the moment for the customers that truly value the best, seamless experience. That's why our customers are our heroes.
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Another thing that makes us different is we only do verandahs, carports, decks & sheds. Therefore, by specializing in these outdoor structures we 100% have more knowledge than anyone for preparing permit plans & getting your building permit approved.
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You can see what our customers think. Check out our REVIEWS HERE
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THE QUICK RUNDOWN
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We are Melbourne based but deliver permits all over Victoria.
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Customers love our easy booking system for online design meetings.
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Haven do everything. Plans, applications, responses, dispensations, you name it.
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We achieve our professional level of service by holding a first in first served policy. We only take on 20 new permits each month. Once this quota is full we start adding to the quota of the next available month.
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We operate niche & are masters of what we specialize in. We only do outdoor, non-habitable projects such as sheds, decks & carports. We deliberately don't try to be everything to everyone.
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Do we do permits for new homes or extensions? See above!
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Over the years we've helped well over 4,000 people get their plans & permit approved.
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We build strong relationships with our amazing Town Planning experts & our champion panel of Building Surveyors. We understand their wants & they understand how we deliver information. It flows back to you.
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Is it possible to get expert advice, plans prepared & a permit issued all from one provider?Yes, we offer a full package to take the hassle out of permits! We can just prepare some plans for you if you want to arrange your own permit. Alternatively, we can prepare the plans & do your permit application with one of our panel of Building Surveyors. [Most Popular Service] HASSLE ALERT! Most people who have tried doing their own permits in the past tell us they have no problems spending the extra money to have us do everything for them!
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How long does a building permit take to get approved Victoria?A typical building permit process takes 3 to 4 weeks to get approved. This is the time needed to prepare a set of your plans, review them with you & perhaps make some small changes, lodge the application & have it fully assessed by the building surveyor.
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Do I need a Building Permit?Verandahs- A verandah has a roof to keep you dry. There are no exemptions for a verandah. All verandahs need a building permit. Pergolas- A pergola has no roof. It is an open frame structure with maybe some timber battens or shade cloth. If your pergola is under 20sq.m in size, under 3.6m high & not forward of the front wall of your house it will likely be exempt from needing a building permit. Decks- Decks need a building permit with the only exception being if they are fixed directly over an existing concrete slab. The moment you place a stump in a footing in the ground it needs to be part of a permit application. Above Ground Spas & Pools- Relocatable spas & pools are exempt from needing a permit, however, the safety barriers around them definitely do need a building permit. Inground or semi-inground Pools- These definitely need a building permit. Click Here to find out if you need a Building Permit.
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Do I need a permit for a verandah in Victoria?Yes, verandahs do require a building permit as there are no permit exemptions for verandahs in Victoria. A verandah is a roofed structure that is either attached to the house or it can be free-standing like a cabana.
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Can I draw my own plans for the permit?Some building surveyors may accept a Site Plan prepared by a home owner but most want all plans to be prepared by a Registered Practitioner (draftsperson or architect). All other plans, comprising of a floor plan (layout) & elevations, need to be done by professionals like us. Haven can prepare your plans for you.
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Can I build to my boundary?The regulations say: Verandahs & decks should be 1000m from the side or rear boundary. Verandahs can encroach up to 500mm but then fire transfer must be considered. Carports can be built within 200mm of the boundary or 1000mm from the boundary (nothing in between). They are exempt from fire transfer considerations if they have two open sides totalling at least one third of the total perimeter of the carport. Spas & Pools are exempt from Siting regulations so they can be placed anywhere on the property as long as they comply with pool safety requirements. The above regulations can be varied under a process called Report & Consent. It involves applying to Council to assess if they will allow your project closer to the boundary. It costs extra money & will take months to obtain if successful. Some Zoning Schedules on properties have specific minimum setback distances from boundaries that override the building regulations. You can obtain your property Zone Schedules here.
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Is a Town Planning Permit the same a getting a Building Permit?The answer is No. They are two different applications. Town Planning goes to the town planning department at your local Council. It is expensive & will take several months to obtain a permit if successful. Only Council can make that assessment & issue an approval. Building Permits are mostly submitted to private Registered Building Surveyors these days. A number of Melbourne based Councils no longer accept permit applications anymore. We prefer to work with our tight panel of Building Surveyor companies because we get much better service & our great relationships have a flow on effect back to our customers. If your property has a town planning requirement, the Building Surveyor will not be able to issue your building permit until Town Planning approval has been obtained from Council. You can obtain your property Zone Schedules here.
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Do I need engineering?Engineering is required on all inground pools. Your pool manufacturer will supply this documentation. If you are building a custom design concrete pool we have consulting engineers that can help you. Engineering is seldom required on decks & verandahs.