--- title: Can You Renovate Your Bathroom Without Strata Approval? description: New bathroom? Do you need strata approval? As apartment renovation design practitioners we've been through this process of apartment renovation many times. image: https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Dont%20include%20any%20colour%20In%20a%20black%20and%20white%20line%20art%20hand%20drawn%20style%20the%20image%20depicts%20a%20vintage%20bathroom%20under%20renovation.jpeg --- [Skip to content](https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/blog/can-you-renovate-your-bathroom-without-strata-approval#main-content) ![tight_knit_buildingdesign](https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/hs-fs/hubfs/tight_knit_buildingdesign.jpg?width=80&height=52&name=tight_knit_buildingdesign.jpg) - [Home](https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/home) - [About Us](https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/about-us) - [Contact us](https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/contact-us) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/home) - [About Us](https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/about-us) - [Contact us](https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/contact-us) - [Book a Discovery Call](https://meetings.hubspot.com/scott-pearse) [Book a Discovery Call](https://meetings.hubspot.com/scott-pearse) [All posts](https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/blog/all) March 28, 2025 # Can You Renovate Your Bathroom Without Strata Approval? ![Picture of Scott Pearse](https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_IMG_4251.jpg?width=50&name=_IMG_4251.jpg) By  Scott Pearse  ·  2 minute read So, you're dreaming of a bathroom makeover—fresh tiles, a fancy new vanity, maybe even one of those rain showerheads that make you feel like you're in a luxury spa. But before you start picking out grout colors, there's one big question you need to ask: *Do I need strata approval?* Short answer? **Probably.** Longer answer? Well, let's dive in. ### **Check Your Strata By-Laws (But Don't Get Your Hopes Up)** Before you do anything, grab a copy of your strata by-laws and give them a read. If there's a magical clause that says, *"Go forth and renovate freely, no approval needed!"*—great! But, spoiler alert: **we've never seen that clause exist.** In our experience, **any renovation in a strata property requires approval.** So, if your dream bathroom includes more than just a new coat of paint, it's time to get strata on board. ### **The Strata By-Law Approval Process** To get strata’s blessing, you'll need a **lawyer-drafted by-law** that outlines your planned works. If you’re thinking, *“Great, I’ll just call a lawyer and tell them I want a new bathroom,”* hold up! The lawyer will need to know exactly what you're planning before they can draft anything useful. That’s where **architectural plans** (or at the very least, a detailed scope of works document) come in. These show exactly what’s changing—whether you’re moving plumbing, altering walls, or just swapping out fixtures. If you need help sourcing a by-law or sorting out your plans, **[we've got you covered](https://meetings.hubspot.com/scott-pearse).** ### **You Got Strata Approval! Time to Start? Not So Fast.** Hooray! Your strata committee voted yes, and you have your shiny new by-law. Time to start swinging hammers? **Not quite.** One of the commitments you've made in your by-law is to provide strata with a number of documents, for instance, your builder's license and insurance details—usually at least **14 days before** work begins. That means you need to sort this **before** your builder sets foot on-site. Any builder familiar with strata work will ask for strata approval before they start. If yours doesn’t? That’s a red flag. ### **Oh, and About That Legal Fine Print…** Buried in that lawyer-drafted by-law is a line that says you agree to comply with the **Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979**. Easy to miss, but super important. Translation? If your renovation requires **council approval**, you’ve just legally agreed to get it. ### **Do You Need Council Approval for a Bathroom Reno?** Here’s where I wish I had a simple answer, but instead, I have to say: **It depends.** (And trust me, I get tired of saying that too.) If you want to avoid council approval, your renovation must qualify as **Exempt Development** under NSW government rules. The big one for bathrooms? The **“arrangement” of the room must remain the same.** For us at TightKnit, that means: - No **new** floor penetrations (e.g., relocating a bath drain) - No **removal of walls** If your plans involve either of these, you might need council approval. ### **Need Help? Let's Chat.** If all this feels like a lot to navigate (because, well, it is), we’re here to help. Book a [**Project Discovery Call**](https://meetings.hubspot.com/scott-pearse) with us, and we’ll empower you to navigate the process—so you can get back to the fun stuff, like choosing tapware that *actually* matches your tiles. Happy renovating!   Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/blog/can-you-renovate-your-bathroom-without-strata-approval) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/blog/can-you-renovate-your-bathroom-without-strata-approval) [twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/blog/can-you-renovate-your-bathroom-without-strata-approval) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/blog/can-you-renovate-your-bathroom-without-strata-approval) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/blog/can-you-renovate-your-bathroom-without-strata-approval) Let's connect [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/tightknitbuildingdesign/) [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/tightknitbuildingdesign/) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tightknit-building-design/) Copyright © 2026, TightKnit PTY LTD ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Scott Pearse", "url" : "https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/blog/author/scott-pearse" }, "dateModified" : "2025-03-28T23:45:04.110Z", "datePublished" : "2025-03-28T23:45:04.000Z", "headline" : "Can You Renovate Your Bathroom Without Strata Approval?", "image" : [ "https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Dont%20include%20any%20colour%20In%20a%20black%20and%20white%20line%20art%20hand%20drawn%20style%20the%20image%20depicts%20a%20vintage%20bathroom%20under%20renovation.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://tightknitbuildingdesign.com/blog/can-you-renovate-your-bathroom-without-strata-approval", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject" } } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Article", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : [ "Scott Pearse" ] }, "datePublished" : "2025-03-28T23:45:04+0000", "description" : "New bathroom? 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