About one in five inquiries we receive is from someone who has already laid foundations for an extension that, technically, was not yet approved. The work usually does not get torn down — but it does get a stop-work order, a fine, and a long backwards-looking submission. So this is the friendly version of the rules.
Does my project need a permit?
If you are altering the building footprint (adding floor area), modifying the roofline, or changing structural elements like load-bearing walls, you need approval. Painting, tiling, swapping fixtures, and most internal partition tweaks do not.
Different councils have different reading of “minor”. DBKL is generally stricter than MBPJ; MBPJ generally stricter than MBSJ. When in doubt — ask your contractor to write to the council with a diagram. The reply is free.
The eight documents we always prepare
- Owner’s identification and proof of ownership (latest quit rent, assessment receipt, geran).
- Architectural drawings — proposed plan, elevation, section.
- Structural drawings & calculation — endorsed by a Professional Engineer (Ir.).
- Site plan with setbacks marked clearly.
- Form A application form, signed by the registered draughtsperson.
- Letter of consent from immediate neighbours (where setbacks are tight).
- Fire and drainage compliance note (for larger extensions).
- Submission fee — varies by council, usually RM 80–RM 300.
The realistic timeline
For a single-storey rear extension in Petaling Jaya: about 6–8 weeks from submission to approval if drawings are clean and the council is not on a backlog. Allow 10–12 weeks during heavier periods, around mid-year and post-Raya. Plan your contractor’s start date accordingly.
Submitted complete on Monday, queries received by Wednesday, replied to by Friday — that is the workflow that keeps you under 8 weeks. Stop-and-wait kills schedules.
What the council will ask for that surprises homeowners
- Setback compliance — typically 6 ft side, 20 ft rear depending on locality.
- Roof material match with the original.
- Stormwater drainage to remain on your land, not flow onto neighbours.
- Window opening alignment with neighbour’s habitable rooms.
- Sometimes — a tree preservation note if a mature tree sits on the lot.
After approval — the part nobody mentions
Approval is the start, not the finish. You need a Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) once works are done. That requires a final inspection by your principal submitting person, typically the same draughtsperson or architect who lodged the application. We coordinate this for you and keep the original certificate in your handover folder.