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                    Report a building safety or planning issue

                    If you are aware of a building safety issue, you should report it.

                    You can also report if you believe planning controls are in breach. This includes if you think work is being done without a permit.
                    Before you report an issue

                    Before you report an issue to City of Melbourne, make sure it is on land we are responsible for. To find out if a property is within the municipality, check the City of Melbourne maps.

                    You can also browse this map to find contact details for surrounding municipalities. Use these to report an issue on a property outside the City of Melbourne.

                    Report a building safety issue 

                    You should report any unsafe building or construction site you see in the municipality. 

                    If someone could get hurt, call us immediately on 03 9658 9658. 

                    We may need to ask you questions to help solve the problem. 

                    If you are concerned about worker or workplace safety contact WorkSafe

                    What you can report to us

                    Building safety or construction issues we can investigate include: 

                    • unsafe buildings and construction sites 
                    • fire safety and cladding issues 
                    • nightclub, hostel or low-cost accommodation safety 
                    • construction sites encroaching on a road 
                    • fumes or exhaust from a construction site 
                    • construction noise. 

                    If you want to complain about noise from a venue or business, you will need to report a planning breach

                    Construction noise

                    ​If you are affected by construction noise, read how to report a noise issue

                    Make a report

                    You can report a building safety or construction issue online

                    You'll need to describe the issue and give the location. 

                    You can attach up to four photos to show the issue. 

                    It can take us up to 30 days to investigate and respond to your report. You will receive a reference number.

                    Report a planning breach

                    How land is used and developed is subject to planning controls and permits. In the City of Melbourne municipality, land use and development are controlled by the Melbourne Planning Scheme

                    You can report cases of use or development controls you believe to be in breach. 

                    What you can report

                    Planning breaches you can report include: 

                    • work without a permit, for example, home extensions or demolition 
                    • work that is inconsistent with a permit or council-endorsed plans 
                    • Illegal use of a property 
                    • changes to the way land is used 
                    • changes to property covered by a heritage overlay. 

                    Noise from a public place, such as people leaving a nightclub or children playing in a park, is not a breach. Read how to report a noise issue

                    Identify a breach

                    If you think work might be a planning breach, check the controls that apply to the property. Follow these steps: 

                    1. Open City of Melbourne maps
                    2. Use the search or browse to select the property where you want to check controls. 
                    3. A box should open showing the property address and image. Use the up arrow to expand the information shown.
                    4. Inside the box, select the Planning tab and look at the Planning Permit Applications section. If there are planning applications associated with the site, they will be listed here.​. 

                    You can also check controls that apply to a property using the planning permit register

                    Some changes to property don’t need a planning permit. To find out if work needs a permit, visit Melbourne Planning Scheme – do I need a permit? 

                    Make a report

                    You can report a planning breach online

                    You will need to describe what you believe the breach is and give the location. You can also attach up to four photos to show the issue.  

                    If we identify a breach, we will seek compliance. We may take any of the following actions: 

                    • negotiate to resolve issues 
                    • issue an infringement notice 
                    • apply for an enforcement order 
                    • prosecute through the Magistrates’ Court. 
                    It can take us up to 10 days to investigate and respond. You will receive a reference number when you make the report.

                    Complain about a builder or contractor 

                    Anyone involved in a project can make a complaint about a building practitioner. 

                    Complaints about building practitioners are handled by the Victorian Building Authority. They can handle complaints about: 

                    • registered and unregistered builders 
                    • private and municipal building surveyors 
                    • demolition contractors 
                    • other specialist contractors. 

                    To make a complaint about your builder or contractor visit the Victorian Building Authority


                    Report a rooming house 

                    Operators of rooming houses must register them. 

                    To tell us about an unregistered or unsafe rooming house, report a public health issue

                    To find out more about rooming house standards visit Consumer Affairs Victoria

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