What is an easement?
An easement is a section of land reserved by law for a specific purpose. There are two types of easements: regulatory and private.
Regulatory easements come under the authority of councils or service providers, while private easements allow land owners to access their neighbour’s land.
One of the most common easements that relates to councils is a drainage easement. This gives Council right of access for constructing and maintaining stormwater drains.
You can check if there are any easements on your property by requesting a copy of your property Title information from Landata.
Do I need a permit to build over an easement or drain?
If you intend to build any sort of structure over a draining easement, you must check if you need to apply for consent to build over the easement.
Under Section 130 of the Building Regulations 2018, if your work requires a building permit, then you must also submit an application for a permit to build over an easement.
Work which may require an application to build over an easement includes the building of:
- fences
- sheds
- garages
- pergolas
- and dwellings including offices, shops and factories, etc.
An application is also required for any structures that are proposed to be constructed within one metre of one of our assets (including drains), regardless of whether a building permit would be required for the works.
Permanent structures, such as habitable rooms of dwellings, offices, shops and factories, may not be constructed over a drainage easement.
How to apply
What happens next?
After your application is received, an invoice will be sent to you via email. This email will contain instructions about how to pay the application fee.
Once your application fee has been paid, a response will be sent to you via email within 15 business days.
Other required approvals
You may also require approvals from any other authorities that may have an interest in your easement, including Yarra Valley Water.
Contact the relevant authorities (refer to your property title) to obtain approval prior to commencement of any works over the easement.