How is building height measured?
According to ACT – Advisory Note 09 – Building Heights, Storeys and Basements, building height is measured as the vertical distance from the datum ground level to the highest point of the building.
The datum ground level is the surveyed ground level used as the reference for measuring height and is typically shown on the field survey submitted with a development application. The height measurement includes the highest part of the building, including rooftop elements such as lift overruns, fixed mechanical plant, and rooftop garden structures. It does not include features such as paving, driveways, roads, surface car parks, fences, courtyard walls, retaining walls, or transportable buildings not intended for long-term habitation.
Reference: ACT – Advisory Note 09 – Building Heights, Storeys and Basements – https://www.planning.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/2323002/an09-working-out-building-heights-storeys-basements.pdf
Short Answer
According to ACT - Advisory Note 09 – Building Heights, Storeys and Basements, building height is measured as the vertical distance from the datum ground level to the highest point of the building. The datum ground level is the ground level established by a registered surveyor and is used as the reference point for all building height calculations. Rooftop structures that form part of the building, such as lift overruns, fixed mechanical plant, and rooftop garden structures, are included in the height measurement.
Detailed Explanation
According to Advisory Note 09 – Building Heights, Storeys and Basements, building height is measured as the vertical distance between the datum ground level and the highest point of the building.
The datum ground level is the reference point used for all building height calculations. It is the surface ground level determined by a field survey prepared by a registered surveyor, either at the time the block was subdivided or when the Crown Lease was granted. Where this information is unavailable, it is the surveyor's best estimate based on the surrounding ground levels. For a development application, the datum ground level is typically shown on the field survey submitted with the application.
The height measurement includes the highest point of the building, including attached rooftop elements such as fixed mechanical plant, lift overruns, and rooftop garden structures, as these are considered part of the building. However, features such as paving, driveways, roads, surface car parks, fences, courtyard walls, retaining walls, and transportable buildings that are not intended for long-term habitation (such as caravans or mobile homes) are not included in the building height calculation.
No minimum block size does not remove the need for planning assessment.
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