House Raising on the Gold Coast

What house raising on the Gold Coast actually involves

The City of Gold Coast says it requires residential habitable floor levels to be at or above the height of the combined defined flood level, with minimum freeboard of 300 millimetres, as prescribed in the Flood Overlay Code of the City Plan and the Building Regulation 2006. Its flood level search gives the level for a property, its register lists that search at A$113.00 for each lot for 2026-27, and it says the report will not show the flood extent. Whether that rule applies to raising an existing house is for the City or a certifier to say, before design work starts.

The height line in the City Plan

On land identified on the Dwelling house overlay map, the City Plan makes a dwelling house that involves building work and exceeds the height on its Building height overlay map, or where none is mapped has a partial third storey or is more than 9 metres in height, impact assessable. Which lots the maps reach, and whether a raise counts as that kind of development, are for the City or a certifier to say. The City says its interactive mapping and the City Plan help decide whether a development application is needed.

Some providers describe lifting a house on steel beams and holding it while new supports go in, or building into the space beneath the raised floor. This site does not describe either method, or say how long they take or what they cost. Ask a provider to explain the method in writing and who will lodge any approval.

House Raising on the Gold Coast — common questions

Does raising a house need approval?

The Building Act makes all building work assessable unless a regulation makes it accepted development, and the repair items exclude work that changes height. The rest depends on the land, so ask a certifier or the City.

What sets how high a house has to go?

For a habitable floor the City says the defined flood level plus 300 millimetres of freeboard, in its own description of the flood rule. Whether it applies to a raise is for the City or a certifier to say.

How much does house raising cost?

We show no price. The costs page covers what moves the cost and the regulator's thresholds for licences, contracts and deposits.