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What is required?

• Prior to any earthworks commencing, the relevant approvals must be obtained from the Shire.
• Development approval is required for earthworks (fill or cut) that change the approved natural ground level by more than 500 mm.
• A building permit may be required for earthworks.
  • Note: where a landowner(s) chooses to do the building works in lieu of their builder, the landowner(s) must obtain a building permit prior to any earthworks commencing.
• Where development approval is required, development approval must be obtained before an application for a building permit can be submitted to the Shire.

Obtaining Development Approval 

• An application for earthworks will normally be associated with an application for a building, an include retaining.
• To submit an application for development approval for earthworks, the Shire requires:
  • A completed application form, signed by all landowners;
  • Application fee;
  • Certificate of Title (dated within the last 6 months);
  • Deposited Plan, where a Certificate of Title lists easements or other encumbrances on the property;
  • Full site plan at a reasonable scale (e.g. 1:100, 1:200) based on a site feature and contour survey showing:
    • Proposed development;
    • Easements (where applicable);
    • Building envelope(s) (where applicable);
    • Key environmental features;
    • Setbacks from boundaries clearly marked;
    • Natural ground-level contours and proposed ground levels (including top and bottom of wall heights for retaining/banking), to be based on Australian Height Datum or levels approved previously as per the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015,
    • Justification for any variations sought;
    • Any of the details or plans deemed relevant by the Shire.

Information on how to submit a development application can be found on the Shire’s website:

Planning (Development) Approval Applications

Obtaining a Building Permit 

• Earthworks may be approved as part of a building permit application for a proposed building, or under a separate building permit application where the earthworks are undertaken before construction of the building commences.
• Where a building permit is required for earthworks, the permit must be obtained before works commence.
• If an effluent disposal system is proposed, approval for the installation of an apparatus for the treatment of sewage may be required before a building permit can be issued.
• To submit a building permit application for earthworks, the Shire requires:
  • A completed BA1 or BA2 application form;
  • Payment of the applicable fees;
  • A Certificate of Design Compliance (for BA1 – Certified Building Application);
  • A site plan, to scale, showing:
    • the extent of the proposed earthworks;
    • existing and proposed ground levels;
    • finished pad levels;
    • lot boundaries and setbacks;
    • the location of existing and proposed buildings and structures;
    • the location of any proposed effluent disposal system;
    • contours, spot levels and a permanent datum point;
  • Elevations or cross-sections, where applicable, showing:
    • existing and proposed ground levels;
    • retaining walls, embankments or stone pitching;
    • relevant heights, dimensions and construction materials;
  • Supporting engineering documentation, including:
    • geotechnical reports;
    • soil classification information;
    • retaining wall details;
    • footing details; and
    • construction details certified by a suitably qualified engineer;
  • Any of the details or plans deemed relevant by the Shire.

Information on how to submit a building permit can be found on the Shire’s website: 

Building Permit Application

Need advice? 

Contact the Shire’s Community Planning team and/or Building team to discuss the requirements. The teams can be contacted by email to shire@mundaring.wa.gov.au or by phone on (08) 9290 6740 (Planning) or (08) 9290 6660 (Building).