Builders must ensure a home is safe. View safety standards for pools, fences, asbestos removal, smoke alarms, bushfire protection and termite control.
When you build a home, you must make sure it's safe. Learn about safety standards around a property.
View safety guides for builders
Browse the Victorian Building Authority's safety guides for everything you need to know to build a safe home. The guides cover a wide range of topics, from smoke alarms to termites.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that can cause cancer when breathed in. It was used in the past to insulate and fireproof building materials. While it's now completely banned in Australia, it's still present in homes built before the 1980s.
When is asbestos harmful?
Asbestos remains safe if it's left undisturbed. It only becomes a health risk when you drill, cut or break asbestos materials, which releases asbestos particles into the air.
How do I remove asbestos?
You need to be careful when dealing with asbestos. It's best to engage a professional asbestos removalist.
For further information, call:
- Environmental Protection Authority: 9695 2722
- Worksafe Victoria: 1800 136 089
- Asbestos Victoria: 9641 1444
Contact Worksafe Victoria
If you are concerned that asbestos isn't handled safely during building works or renovations, contact Worksafe Victoria.
Contact Yarra
If you are concerned because a homeowner is removing asbestos, let us know. Our health protection team can look into the issue and make sure everything is safe.
You can:
- call us on 9205 5555
- make a report online
You may need a planning permit and a building permit when you build a fence. If you need to block a road or footpath to build the fence, you need a Road or Footpath Occupation Permit.
Please talk directly to your neighbours if you want to build or repair a shared fence between your properties. Yarra City Council cannot help you with any shared fence issues, like costs or neighbour disputes.
For more information, including which agencies to contact, visit the state government's website Fencing law in Victoria.
Do I need a permit?
You need a building permit for all swimming pools and spas that can hold more than 30 centimetres of water. Find out more on the Building permit application page.
Do I need a childproof safety barrier?
You need a childproof safety barrier for all pools and spas with a water depth of more than 30 centimetres.
Do I need a permit?
You need a building permit to build a childproof safety barrier. Find out more on the Building permit application page.
What safety barrier do I need?
A safety barrier for your pool or spa must have a self-closing gate with a self-latching device located at least 1.5 metres above the ground. It's your responsibility to maintain the safety barrier.
For more information visit the Victoria Building Authority's website and Royal Life Saving Australia's website.
If you own a property with a swimming pool or spa in the City of Yarra, you need to register it with us. You must also have any safety barriers inspected by a licenced building surveyor or inspector.
We want to make sure that stormwater flowing through our underground system into our waterways and Port Philip Bay is as safe and clean as possible. That's why we ask home owners in the City of Yarra to manage the stormwater on their property from:
- roofs and gutters
- driveways, roads and footpaths
- rainwater tanks
- underground pipes
What do I need to do for stormwater?
You are responsible for maintaining and managing all drains on your private land to the point where they connect with our public kerbs and underground stormwater system. We call this the 'point of connection' or 'legal point of discharge'.
When you apply for a building permit in the City of Yarra, you also need to apply for a legal point of discharge report.
Find out more on our stormwater drains and legal point of discharge page.