Fixed-Fee Patio, Carport or Deck Proposal
Send your address — get a written proposal within 48 hours.
No obligation. A person reads this — not a bot — and responds within one business day. Not sure whether it even needs approval? Ask — that question is free.
This is your service if
You want a patio, carport, deck, pergola or outdoor room on your Gold Coast, Tweed or Brisbane home and you need drawings the certifier or council will accept.
Not quite there yet?
Thinking bigger than an outdoor area, such as a new living wing or a second storey? That is an extension, and it is documented the same careful way. Extensions & Renovations →
What We Design
Small structures, real approval rules.
A carport on the boundary, a deck over 1 metre high, a patio roof tied into the house: each has its own triggers for setbacks, height, site cover, overlooking and structure. Getting the drawings right upfront is far cheaper than an unapproved structure surfacing when you sell or when council writes to you.
Patios & Outdoor Living Areas
Covered patios and alfresco areas, freestanding or attached to the house, drawn with the roof, structure and drainage the certifier looks for.
Carports & Garages
Single and double carports, including boundary carports at the front of the lot, sized and sited to clear the setback rules or documented for a siting variation.
Decks & Verandahs
Timber and steel-framed decks, including elevated decks where balustrades, overlooking and structure decide the approval.
Pergolas, Pool Houses & Sheds
Outbuildings and shade structures, with the site cover and height checks done before the drawings are lodged.
Already built without approval?
It happens. We measure what is there and prepare the drawings needed to seek approval for the existing structure.
Approvals Where You Live
Does a patio or carport need approval?
Usually, yes. Only the smallest structures are exempt, and the limits are stricter than most owners assume. Here is how it works where you live.
Gold Coast & Brisbane (QLD)
Patios, carports, decks and sheds are Class 10 structures and most need building approval from a private certifier. Small, low structures can be exempt, but size, height and distance from the boundary decide it. A carport on the front boundary usually needs a siting variation from council as part of the approval.
Tweed Shire (NSW)
NSW has an exempt development code for small patios, carports and decks that meet strict size, height and setback limits. Anything outside those limits needs a Complying Development Certificate through a private certifier or a Development Application to Tweed Shire Council.
Body corporate and flood overlays
Townhouse and unit owners usually need body corporate consent as well. Gold Coast and Brisbane flood overlays can also affect floor levels for decks and outdoor rooms. We check both before drawing.
How It Works
Four steps from idea to approval.
Tell us the property and what you want to do. We check the zoning, overlays and the likely approval pathway before we quote.
A written proposal within 48 hours, with the scope and the fee agreed before any work starts.
We measure the house and the yard, design the structure to fit and to comply, and prepare the site plan, plans, elevations and sections for the certifier.
Documentation issued to your certifier or council, with requests for information answered until it is approved.
In Their Words
What clients say, verbatim.
“professional, patient and easy to deal with”
Alan P. · outdoor kitchen · Google
“informed/updated of every single thing in advance”
Asif N. · room addition & permits · Google
“smooth and easy to deal with”
Sadiq H. · Google
Common Questions
Patios and carports, answered straight.
Do I need council approval for a patio on the Gold Coast?+
In most cases you need building approval, which is issued by a private building certifier rather than council directly. Very small, low, freestanding structures can be exempt, but a covered patio attached to the house usually is not. Council becomes involved where the structure does not meet the standard setback or site cover rules.
Do I need approval for a carport in Brisbane?+
Usually, yes. Brisbane carports need building approval through a private certifier, and carports built forward of the house or on the boundary commonly need a siting variation as well. Character overlays in older suburbs add design requirements.
Do I need approval for a deck in the Tweed?+
If the deck is small, low and within the NSW exempt development limits, possibly not. Elevated decks, decks close to the boundary, or decks in bushfire or flood areas need a Complying Development Certificate or a Development Application. We check the limits against your lot before advising.
My builder says he can handle it. Why do I need drawings?+
Because the certifier will ask for them. Building approval requires drawings that show the structure, siting and compliance. Many builders prefer to work from proper drawings anyway, and it protects you if the structure is ever questioned when you sell.
How long does approval take?+
It depends on the pathway. Where the design complies fully, a private certifier can issue approval in a few weeks after lodgement. Where council needs to assess a siting variation or a development application, add their assessment time. We tell you which pathway applies before you commit.
How do fees work?+
Fixed fee, agreed in writing before work begins, based on the structure, the site and the approval pathway required. Send your address and a description of what you are planning and you will have a written proposal within 48 hours.
Get Started
Want the patio, carport or deck
approved first time?
Send your address and what you're planning — fixed-fee proposal within 48 hours.