★★★★★
Jason's team is extremely knowledgeable and helpful, it is a delight to work with them.I highly recommend 5J BUILDING GROUP
Biao Z.08 Aug 2024 · Word of Mouth
About 5J Building Group
Home renovation in Balwyn by a registered local builder
5J Building Group has been renovating Melbourne homes for more than 20 years. We're a registered domestic builder specialising in renovations, extensions, kitchens, bathrooms and knockdown rebuilds, and we've completed projects in Balwyn and across Boroondara, including Kew and Surrey Hills.
Balwyn is known for its interwar homes and generous blocks, and many of them need updating without losing the character that makes the street. Whether it's opening up a period home to the garden, adding a rear extension or modernising a kitchen and bathrooms, we manage the whole job: design, permits, trades and construction. Start with a free on-site quote, built around your budget, with no hidden costs.
20+ years renovating Melbourne
Registered builder CDB-U 73492
Word of Mouth 2025 Service Award
Why 5J
Why Balwyn homeowners choose 5J Building Group
20+ years' experience
Two decades of renovating Melbourne homes means we know which materials suit which rooms, and where projects typically run into trouble.
Registered & licensed
Registered Domestic Builder (Unlimited), CDB-U 73492. You're dealing with an accountable, licensed builder, not a middleman.
Our own trades
We organise all the contractors and they work for us. They're vetted, professional and respectful of your home.
No hidden costs
Every job starts with a free, customised quote built around your budget. What we quote is what you pay for.
On time, on budget
Our project managers monitor every stage so your renovation is delivered on schedule and within the agreed budget.
Weekly updates
You'll hear from us every week on progress. Change your mind on a finish? Tell us and we'll work it in.
Our services
Renovation services in Balwyn
Whether it's one room or the whole house, we handle design, approvals and construction under one contract.
Total home renovation
Full-house renovations that modernise layout, finishes and function, including landscaping, driveways and fencing.
Learn more →Home extensions
Ground-floor and second-storey extensions that add space for a growing family without the cost of moving.
Learn more →Kitchen renovations
Classic, modern and French provincial kitchens designed around how your family actually cooks and gathers.
Learn more →Bathroom renovations
Ensuites, family bathrooms and laundries, from waterproofing and tiling through to final fit-off.
Learn more →Knockdown & rebuild
Land selection, feasibility, planning, permits and construction for a brand-new home on your block.
Learn more →Granny flats
Self-contained small second dwellings, prefabricated or built on site, for family, guests or rental income.
Learn more →Recent work
Recent renovation projects
A selection of recent 5J renovations in Balwyn and across Melbourne.
Reviews
What our customers say
Real 5-star reviews from 5J Building Group customers on Word of Mouth.
★★★★★
Best builder in the melbourne
I had a very great experience with 5j Building Group from start to finish
Evan L.08 Dec 2023 · Word of Mouth
★★★★★
Fantastic builder! Super reliable, great communication, and excellent quality work. Everything was finished on time and to a really high standard. Highly recommend!
Jessica X.26 Aug 2025 · Word of Mouth
★★★★★
A wonderful builder team
The service provided by Jason in particular exceptional， From the start of the build until handover the process was made very clear and simple by Jason and his team we could not be happier with the whole process! I strongly recommend them
Yuki Z.07 May 2025 · Word of Mouth
Rated 5.0 ★ on Word of Mouth. Read all our reviews
About the area
Renovating in Balwyn
Balwyn sits about 10 km east of the Melbourne CBD in the City of Boroondara, along the Whitehorse Road ridge. It's best known for its architecturally significant interwar houses, particularly in the heritage-protected Reid Estate between Mont Albert and Whitehorse Roads, and for relatively large blocks that suit families.
Most Balwyn homes are separate houses, alongside a growing number of townhouses and units. For renovators, that usually means period homes that need modern kitchens, bathrooms and living areas, plus the space to extend at the rear, provided the design respects heritage and neighbourhood character controls.
| Postcode | VIC 3103 |
|---|---|
| Council | City of Boroondara |
| Distance to CBD | Approx. 10 km east |
| Area | 5.6 km² |
| Population | 13,495 (2021 Census) |
| Median age | 43 (2021 Census) |
| Housing | 58.5% separate houses (2021 Census) |
| State electorate | Kew |
| Federal division | Kooyong and Menzies |
| Neighbouring suburbs | Balwyn North, Kew East, Mont Albert North, Canterbury, Deepdene, Kew |
We also renovate across nearby suburbs including Kew, Canterbury, Mont Albert and Surrey Hills. See all suburbs we service.
Local planning
Planning and permits in Balwyn
Balwyn is in the City of Boroondara, so renovations are assessed under the Boroondara Planning Scheme and Victoria's building regulations. Boroondara has some of Melbourne's most extensive heritage and tree controls, so these are the rules we check first for a Balwyn renovation.
Check your zone and overlays
Your zone and any overlays decide which rules apply. Boroondara offers a free planning enquiry tool, myLot, and you can also look up your property on VicPlan. Council's alter or extend your house guide explains what each result means. We check this for every job before design starts.
When an extension needs a permit
In Boroondara's residential zones, extending a house needs a planning permit if the lot is under 300 m², or if an overlay applies, such as a Heritage Overlay, Land Subject to Inundation Overlay, Environmental Significance Overlay, most Design and Development Overlays, or a Significant Landscape Overlay where the building is over 6 m. Structural work also needs a building permit, which we arrange.
Heritage homes in Balwyn
Much of Balwyn's interwar housing is protected, including the Reid Estate precinct. A Heritage Overlay doesn't stop you from renovating, but most changes need a planning permit (repairs and maintenance aside), and your home's heritage grading affects how Council assesses it. Well-designed rear extensions that keep the street-facing character are usually the smoothest path.
Boroondara's tree rules
Boroondara's Tree Protection Local Law protects canopy trees on private land with a trunk circumference of 110 cm or more at 1.4 m above ground (or 150 cm at ground level). A permit is needed to remove one, even if it's dead or a weed species, and for works within 2 m of its trunk. Victoria's canopy tree rules (Clause 52.37) can also apply near your front and rear boundaries.
Planning rules change and every property is different, so treat this as a general guide rather than planning advice. We confirm the controls for your address as part of your free quote.
FAQs
Balwyn renovation FAQs
Do I need a permit to renovate my home in Balwyn?
It depends on the work and your property. In Boroondara, extending a house needs a planning permit if the lot is under 300 m² or if an overlay applies, and many Balwyn homes are in a Heritage Overlay. Structural work also needs a building permit. We check your property's zone and overlays early and manage the permits as part of the job.
My Balwyn home is in a Heritage Overlay. Can I still extend it?
Usually, yes. Boroondara Council says a Heritage Overlay doesn't prohibit you from developing your property, but you'll need a planning permit for most changes, and your home's heritage grading affects how the application is assessed. We design extensions that respect the original house, which typically means keeping the street frontage intact and adding space at the rear.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree before renovating in Balwyn?
Often, yes. Under Boroondara's Tree Protection Local Law, you need a permit to remove a canopy tree with a trunk circumference of 110 cm or more at 1.4 m above ground, even if it's dead, and for works within 2 m of its trunk. Balwyn's established gardens mean this comes up often, so we check your trees at the design stage and build any permit into your timeline.
How much does a renovation in Balwyn cost?
Every home is different, so we quote each job individually after an on-site visit. As a general guide, many homeowners aim to spend around 5–10% of their property's value on a renovation. Our quotes are free, tailored to your budget and have no hidden costs.
How long does a home renovation take?
It depends on the scope. A kitchen and two bathrooms typically take 4–8 weeks, larger renovations usually take 2–4 months, and extensions or new builds can take up to 10 months. We give you a clear timeline with your quote.
Do you also renovate in suburbs near Balwyn?
Yes. We renovate across Boroondara and the surrounding eastern suburbs, including Balwyn North, Kew, Canterbury, Mont Albert and Surrey Hills. You get the same team, the same trades and the same free on-site quote wherever you are.
5J Blog
Renovation ideas and advice
Ready to renovate your Balwyn home?
Book a free on-site quote. We'll come to you, look at your home and any heritage or tree controls, and give you a renovation plan built around your budget.