Noosa Council is reminding residents to seek approvals before starting building work, with a recent court case demonstrating the high cost of failing to do so.
A Tewantin man was fined $5000 and ordered to pay $1605 in court costs after he carried out unapproved building work to his house and failed to stop work when issued with an enforcement notice.
"Unapproved building work can pose significant safety concerns and may not comply with the building requirements, so Council takes these matters very seriously," Acting Development and Regulation Director Patrick Murphy said.
The Court noted that the defendant, who is a builder, "should have known better" and emphasised that the community - through the Court - condemns this type of behaviour.
In addition to penalties imposed by the Court, the defendant was required to seek retrospective approval, which is typically more costly and received an additional Council-issued fine.
Mr Murphy said the case serves as a reminder that carrying out building work without approval can lead to significant financial consequences, delays and the risk of unsafe or non-compliant structures.
"Seeking advice from Council or a private building certifier before beginning work is always the safest approach," he said.
In 2025, about 1300 building permits were issued in Noosa.
"Most issues can be avoided with a simple phone call to check the requirements early on."
Council is encouraging homeowners, renovators, and builders to familiarise themselves with local approval requirements when planning projects such as new buildings, renovations, extensions, pools and fences.
