If you’ve established that your project needs an as-built survey, the next question is usually: what exactly does council want to see?
Requirements vary between local government areas and depend on the nature of your project, but most councils across South East Queensland are looking for the same underlying thing — an accurate, current, and clearly presented record of the existing building or site. Here’s what that typically involves.
The Core Drawing Set
Most DA submissions requiring as-built documentation will need some combination of:
Site plan — showing the building footprint, boundaries, setbacks, and site features in relation to the existing structure
Floor plans — accurate existing layouts for each level, including wall thicknesses, room dimensions, doors, and windows
Elevations — all external faces of the building, showing existing heights, roof lines, and openings
Sections — cross-sections through the building showing floor-to-ceiling heights, roof pitch, and any level changes
Roof plan — particularly relevant for extensions, additions, or where roof form affects height or overshadowing assessments
The specific combination depends on your project scope — a rear extension might only need floor plans and elevations for the affected area, while a full renovation or a heritage assessment may need the complete set.
Accuracy and Scale Requirements
Councils generally expect as-built drawings to be:
Drawn to a stated, accurate scale, commonly 1:100 or 1:50 depending on drawing type
Dimensioned clearly, with key measurements shown rather than left to be scaled off the drawing
Consistent with survey-grade accuracy — this is where the method of capture matters. Drawings produced from a laser scan carry a level of accuracy and defensibility that manual measure-ups often can’t match, particularly for older or irregular buildings.
Format and Delivery
Most councils accept as-built drawings as PDF for lodgement, but your architect or town planner will often also want:
CAD files (DWG) for ongoing design work
A 3D BIM model, increasingly requested for larger or more complex developments, or where the project will go through multiple design iterations
At Spatial Method, we deliver drawings in whatever format your project team needs — PDF for lodgement, CAD for design, or BIM for coordination — all derived from the same accurate scan data, so everything stays consistent.
Common Reasons As-Built Documentation Gets Queried by Council
A few recurring issues can trigger a request for information (RFI) or delay assessment:
Dimensions on the as-built drawings don’t match dimensions on the proposed drawings
Existing structure shown doesn’t match what’s visible in site photos submitted with the application
Drawings are missing a scale bar, north point, or clear dimensioning
Heritage-listed properties lack sufficient detail on existing fabric and features
Accurate scan-based drawings largely eliminate the first two issues, since the existing condition drawings are generated directly from a precise capture of the real building rather than reconstructed from memory or old plans.
Talk to Your Town Planner Early
Every council area — and every project — has its own nuances. The most efficient approach is to confirm documentation requirements with your architect or town planner before the survey is commissioned, so the scan and resulting drawings are scoped correctly the first time.
If you’re preparing a DA and want as-built documentation that’s accurate, properly formatted, and ready to go straight into your submission, get in touch — we can work directly with your design team to make sure nothing needs to be redone.