Application Requirements
Formal approval (a building permit) is required for any building work involving the development of new structures, alterations or extensions and changes in ground levels. These include:
- Swimming pools, spas and barriers
- Fences
- Garden sheds
- Verandahs
- Gazebos
- Garages
- Workshops
- Pergolas
- Dwellings
- Commercial buildings including fit-outs and refurbishments
- Industrial buildings
- Changes to ground levels (e.g. cutting and filling soil)
- Retaining walls
- Shade sails
The
Building Regulations 2012 details building work for which a Building Permit is not required. Although a Building Permit may not be required for all works, it does not exempt those works which may require Planning Approval.
Upon the issue of a Building Permit by the permit authority, works shall be completed within 2 years of the issue date, or other time frame as specified by the permit authority. It is important to ensure sufficient time for assessment of your Building Permit.
Click here to view application forms available from the Building Commission of Western Australia.For further information please contact the Shires Building Department on 9175 8000.
An application for a building permit requires the following information:
• Completed building permit application form BA1 or BA2
- Site Plan - 2 copies to a scale not less than 1:200 indicating site boundaries, existing and proposed levels, all existing structures and the location of the proposed structure and distances to the boundaries
- Construction details showing materials to be used, their respective sizes, spacing and spans
- Connection details to the existing main roof and anchorage to footings, including footing dimensions
- Engineers details may be required depending on the materials used and their application in the build of the structure
Fees to be paid upon submission of all applications.
Please note: Applications that require the removal fences or access to other properties will require the affected owner's permission before works commence. In these instances, completion of a BA20A form is required.
A building permit is required before any building work can be carried out.
The Building Act requires the person named on the permit as the builder to ensure that the building is completed in accordance with the plans and specifications approved in the certificate of design compliance and in accordance with the building permit. The Building Act also prescribes the building standards. The person named as the builder on the building permit is responsible for ensuring compliance with the applicable standards.
Approval Process
When you apply for a building permit, you must consider whether to lodge a certified application or choose to lodge an uncertified application. In either case, a signed certificate of design compliance (CDC) is required before approval can be given. A CDC confirms that a building's design complies with the applicable building standards.
Certified and uncertified applications
A certified application is where you engage a registered building surveyor to complete a CDC before the application for a permit is submitted. The CDC will need to accompany the application for a building permit certified Form BA1. If all other required approvals have been obtained, the permit authority has ten business days to approve or reject your application. Applications for Class 1b and Class 2 to 9 must be lodged as certified applications. Applications for Class 1a and 10 may be lodged as certified applications or uncertified. Building fees for Class 1 or Class 10 are calculated at 0.19% of the value of the work, with the BCITF levy fee the same as the Uncertified fee structure. For Class 2 to Class 9 is calculated at 0.09% of the value of the work with BCITF.
An uncertified application can only be lodged for class 1a and 10 residential buildings using a Form BA2. Once your application is submitted the permit authority will assess compliance with the Building Code of Australia and complete the relevant certification (CDC) before it can grant a building permit. The permit authority has 25 business days to approve or reject your application. For a timely approval it is important to ensure plans and specifications submitted with your application demonstrate compliance with the Building Code of Australia and all other relevant approvals have been obtained before your application is submitted. Building fees are calculated at 0.32% of the value of the work with a minimum fee of $92. Should the work exceed $20,000 then the BCITF levy fee is calculated at 0.2% of the value of the works inclusive of GST. All building applications attract a building Service levy on top of the above fees, over $45,000 is 0.09% of work value, under $45,000 is $40.50.
Private certification
A CDC can be signed by any registered building surveyor with appropriate qualifications. Local governments will continue to provide this service for uncertified applications and may elect to continue providing this service for certified applications. To check that the building surveyor is a registered contractor, who is authorised to issue a CDC, view the Register of Building Surveying Contractors and Practitioners - Building Services Registration Act 2011.
Other approvals
Other approvals are those that may apply to your proposed building work and may be outside the process of certification by the building surveyor. Typically this authority may include planning, health and any other approvals required by the local government under other written law.
For more information on the building approvals process please click here.
Resources:
Pro Forma Statement on Work Affecting other Land
Pro Forma Statement on Planning
Application Forms
Applications forms are available for download on the Building Commission Website.
For further information on building Permits, or to see how your application is progressing, please contact us on 9175 8000.
For further information on building permits, or to see how your application is progressing, please contact us on 9175 8000.