Building services

Building services provides a range of necessary services including:

• Discretionary assessments under the provisions of the Building Act 1975, Queensland Development Code MP 1.1 and MP 1.2 and Sustainable Planning Regulation 2009.  These include siting of buildings and structures on residential allotments.
• Provision of building information service, with extracts from Council's records, including:
• • Copies of Certificates of Classification (for commercial buildings)
  • Building Permit searches
  • Date and original cost of building construction
  • Copies of building plans
• Provision of building statistics to the Australian Bureau of Statistics and to Council.
• Enforcement functions under provisions of Building Act 1975 and Sustainable Planning Act 2009.
  

Building certification

Cairns Regional Council provides a certification service to approve all residential building work on residential allotments.  

This certification service is for building work constructed within the Cairns local government area, on behalf of the Cairns Regional Council.

The certification assessment procedure enables the public to gain building approval and ensures that the construction of the proposed works complies with the following legislative requirements:

• Building Act 1975
• Building Regulations 2006
• Building Code of Australia
• Australian Standards
• Queensland Development Code
  

Boundary fencing

The Dividing Fences Act 1953 relates to constructing and repairing fences that divide adjoining land and aims to help you obtain a contribution from your neighbour. 

• Visit the Queensland Legislation website for more information.
• The Queensland Department of Justice & Attorney General website provides a useful guide with a suggested plan of action which may be helpful in avoiding conflict with your neighbours about fencing and trees.
  

Pool fencing

The standard for fencing around a swimming pool is contained in the Australian Standards:

• AS1926.1 -1993 Swimming Pool Safety Part 1: Fencing for swimming pools
• AS1926.2 -1995 Swimming Pool Safety Part 2: Location of fencing for private swimming pools

Swimming pools

For all information regarding swimming pool enclosures visit the Queensland Government Pool Safety website.

Should you require any further information please email buildingservices@cairns.qld.gov.au