We are aware that circumstances may change after you have made an application for a service from the Building Department, please review this information to determine how to cancel an application and if you maybe eligible for a refund.
Building Services fee refund guidelines
Information provided on this page explains what funds you may be eligible for should you not go ahead with your plans.
If there are monies owed to Council for other applications by the applicant, or an outstanding balance on a debtors account in the name of the applicant, the funds determined to be eligible for refund, at Councils discretion may be used to offset these other debts to Council.
Cancelling an application
All requests for cancellation of an application and the refund of any relevant fees paid must be made in writing to [email protected].
The request must include the following information:
- name and address of applicant
- contact details of the applicant
- address of the property where fees have been paid
- reason why the request is being made
- bank details where funds are to be deposited (if eligible)
- copy of a redacted bank statement showing name of account and account details.
Notes
The cancellation of the application does not rescind the City as your Registered Building Surveyor. The owner needs to make an application to the Building & Plumbing Commission to have the City terminated as the Registered Building Surveyor.
Please review how to undertake this action on the Building & Plumbing Commission website.
In instances where a request for a refund of fees is not addressed by the above the Municipal Building Surveyor or Coordinator Building Services Support will be consulted who will use the intent of this guideline to determine an appropriate percentage of fees paid to be refunded.
Fees will be returned to the person or organisation who initially paid the fee unless the person or organisation authorises in writing that the refund be returned to an alternative person or organisation.
When making a decision on a request, decision making will be consistent transparent equitable and fair with this guideline and an internal work instruction guiding appropriate decision making.
Exceptional circumstances are generally those where the City has made a clear error in either making a decision, providing information or where the City has otherwise not performed to a satisfactory standard.
This must be clearly evident with significant research and establishment of facts being required.
The personal circumstances of an applicant are not an exceptional circumstance.
These guidelines are reviewed every 12 months with an amendments coming into force from the 1st July of each year.
Guideline on what could be expected from an application for a refund
| Application lodged and processed up to requesting further information | 75% refund |
| Application assessed and further information has been requested | 50% refund |
| Building Permit issued and applicant not progressing with works | 25% refund |
| Inspection(s) have been commenced | No refund available |
| Notice of imminent lapse of Building Permit issued | No refund available |
| Building Permit has expired / lapsed | No refund available |
Note: if a Building Permit has expired and an extension was not sought prior to it lapsing then a new application would be required for the building works to continue | |
| If application lodged | No refund available |
| Where an event is unable to take place due to unforeseen circumstances which are out of the organiser control. | |
| If application lodged but assessment has not commenced | 75% refund of application fee |
| If assessment has commenced and permit issued but event does not proceed | Assessed on request for refund |
| Duplicate lodgement of Pool / Spa registration | 75% refund |
| Duplicate lodgement of compliance certificate | 75% refund |
| If duplicate application lodged | 75% refund |
| If application lodged for property not located within City of Greater Geelong | 75% refund |
| If application lodged | No refund available |
| If assessment has not started | 75% refund |
| If assessment has commenced and / or consent issued | No refund available |
| Flood Revocation | |
| If flood revocation has occurred between being issued a Property Information Certificate and applying for a Report and Consent to build on flood prone land. If you are relying on a Property Information Certificate which has been issued within: | |
| The last 30 calendar days | Full refund |
| 31 to 60 calendar days | 75% refund |
| 61 to 90 calendar days | 50% refund |
| More than 91 calendar days | No refund |
| If application lodged but assessment has not commenced | 100% refund of occupation fee 50% refund of application fee |
| Where assessment has commenced but permit has not been issued | 100% refund of occupation fee No refund of application fee |
| Where permit has been issued and occupation has commenced | No refund available |
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