Any way to look up building permits?

An off-market property I'm looking at has neighbours doing a rear demo + extension. Keen to see what has been approved, as if they're going a storey up it would negatively impact the northern light in the house (small block).

I know I could doorknock and ask them, but I'm hesitant in case I accidentally trigger a bidding war

Is there some sort of service (I'm in Vic) where I can look up residential planning/building permits by address?

I can see some on speakingsame.com, curious where they're scraping their data from...

 

Hi not sure if this is what you are looking for but this is an example of planning applications for city of monash.
I think other councils will have something similar?

www.monash.vic.gov.au/Building-Planning/Proposed-Developments/View-Planning-Applications

look under 'currently advertised for public comment'.

 

Planning permits are all registered with council. Building permits are the ones required for most extensions and renos and can bed done by a Private surveyor as there are still res codes that need to be complied with e.g. overshadowing (relevent to you)

There's no advertising and there's no legal right to access the details of the permit e.g. drawings etc. without taking things to court (civil)