Building over an easement
Section 148 of the Water Act 1989 states that a property owner requires consent from Yarra Valley Water before building a structure or placing soil, rock or other matter over land within one metre of Yarra Valley Water sewer or water infrastructure (such as a sewer pipe, maintenance hole, sewerage branch or another access point) or within an easement.
A ‘structure’ includes, but is not limited to:
- garden sheds
- water tanks
- barbecues
- pergolas
- cubby houses
- fences (not including paling fences)
- garages, carports
- home extensions
- houses, units
- granny flats
- landscaping.
Before you start
- Find out where our infrastructure is within your property by purchasing a plan of your property. Find out how to purchase a property asset plan.
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Consider Yarra Valley Water’s (YVW) responsibility of the sewer connection point. YVW and property owner responsibilities for the connection point are outlined here.
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If you are planning on undertaking any work on your property it is important that you ensure your design plans are compliant with our BOE guidelines. If your plans don’t comply, you may be required to undertake remedial works or change your plans and reapply. This will incur additional costs.
View BOE Guidelines 2024
Use of previous BOE guidelines - customer grace period
Our BOE guidelines were updated on 4 March 2024. We recognise that some customers will have invested time and resources on plans to meet the BOE guidelines dated 2014, but whose application will be submitted on or soon after 4 March 2024. For these customers, we’ll allow a grace period for applications with plans that meet the BOE guidelines dated 2014.
This grace period will end on 30 June 2024.
View previous BOE Guidelines 2014
Apply for approval
Before you start work, you need to get your plans approved by Yarra Valley Water. To do this, submit a Build Over Easement application online. You will need to include a full set of site plans, including elevation plans and structural plans if applicable, with your application.
BOE conditions
These BOE standard conditions must be read in conjunction with the specific conditions provided with the BOE approval.