This might be OT. But in Victoria it seems we have Planning Permits and then Building Permits.
In my OC, there have been 2 Planning Permits submitted to council without the OC even being informed, never mind with the OC’s Common Seal. The OC Act does state that the owner must inform the OC but in both cases they didn’t. And neither did the council.
OC Act 2006
133 Notice of planning and building applications and plans of subdivision
A lot owner must give notice to the owners corporation of any application by the lot owner for a building permit or planning permit or the certification of a plan of subdivision affecting the lot.
One planning application was for a terrace enclosure and the other was for a change to terrace privacy screens. Both applications were approved by council!
Neither has actually been built yet, so I hope that when it comes to a Building Permit the OC’s permission will be needed by council! As both works affect common property, the owners would at some point need OC permission anyhow.
But it’s been interesting (alarming really!) to see how far an owner can go without getting the OC’s permission.