Are You An Owner Builder?

An Owner-builder is a 'person who carries out domestic building work on his or her own land, who is not in the business of building' (www.buildingcommission.com.au).

Owner-builders are responsible for:

  • Obtaining all permits required
  • Supervising building work and/or carrying out the work themselves
  • Ensuring the work meets relevant building regulations, standards and other laws
  • Arranging for building inspections as required by law at particular stages of the building work
  • Obtaining an occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection from the relevant building surveyor on completion of work.

New Owner-builder Regulation from 14 June 2005:

  • Must obtain a Certificate of Consent from the Building Practitioners Board in order to obtain a building permit to carry out domestic building work valued over $12,000.
  • May only obtain building permits for a single dwelling and associated work on a single property in any three-year period.
  • Must reside and continue to reside, or intend to reside in the single dwelling.