Townhouse Building Certifier Brisbane
Townhouse and small multi-unit developments carry more complexity than a single house: shared walls, common property, fire separation and multiple dwellings on one lot. Vast Consulting Group certifies townhouse and multi-unit projects across Brisbane, from the Building Approval through to the final certificate. Because our team has worked on construction sites as well as behind a compliance desk, we can talk through buildability issues with your builder or developer, not just flag them on paper.
How townhouse certification works in Queensland
Townhouse and multi-unit developments are generally assessed as class 2 buildings under the National Construction Code (NCC), which brings a different set of requirements to a standalone house, including fire rating between units, sound transmission and common property considerations. As your private certifier, licensed by the QBCC and regulated under the Building Act 1975, we assess the design against the NCC and the Queensland Development Code (QDC) and issue the Building Approval.
Most townhouse developments will also need a council Development Approval under the Planning Act 2016 and the relevant local planning scheme, such as Brisbane City Plan 2014, because of density, site cover or other planning considerations that go beyond what accepted development allows. We work alongside your town planner where a DA is required, then take over the building certification once planning approval is in place. On completion, because townhouses and multi-unit buildings are class 2 to 9 buildings, we issue a Form 11 Certificate of Occupancy rather than a Form 21.
The process with Vast
Send us your drawings
We review the architectural, structural and services drawings together, since multi-unit projects usually involve more consultants than a single house.
Assessment and approval
We assess the design against the NCC and QDC, coordinate with any council Development Approval already in place, and issue the Building Approval.
Stage inspections
We carry out inspections across the build, including fire separation and common property elements specific to multi-unit construction.
Final certificate
Once inspections are complete, we issue the Form 11 Certificate of Occupancy for the development.
What we check
Areas we cover
We certify townhouse and multi-unit developments across Brisbane City, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redland, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Density and design requirements vary between council areas, so send us your site address early and we will flag anything specific to that planning scheme.
FAQs
Do townhouses need a council Development Approval as well as a building approval?
Most townhouse and multi-unit developments need a council Development Approval because of density or site considerations, followed by a Building Approval from a private certifier for the construction itself. We can confirm the exact path once we see your plans.
What certificate do I get at the end of a townhouse project, a Form 21 or a Form 11?
Townhouses and multi-unit buildings are generally class 2 buildings, so they receive a Form 11 Certificate of Occupancy rather than the Form 21 issued for standalone houses.
Can Vast certify a mixed-use development with shops below and units above?
Yes, we certify mixed-use buildings involving different classes under the NCC, coordinating the assessment and inspections across the whole development.
How are inspections handled for a multi-unit project built in stages?
We plan inspections around your construction program, including any staged occupation, so units can be signed off progressively where the design and approval allow it.
Call our Brisbane office on (07) 3112 7689 or get a free quote for your townhouse or multi-unit project. See our commercial and industrial certification page for larger developments, and if you are building in Sydney, our dual occupancy and townhouse approvals page covers the NSW path.
Send us the drawings. We'll tell you what it takes to get approved.
Unrestricted building surveyors and certifiers. Residential, commercial and industrial. Brisbane and Sydney.
Woolloongabba QLD 4102 (07) 3112 7689 Also serving the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast