Owner Builders Permit

Regulations in gaining an owner-builders permit or licence varies from state to state. Below is a brief rundown of what is required for the different states of Australia. Keep in mind that although the information was correct at time of writing, it is essential that you check the correct governing authority for up to date information.

Queensland (QLD)

• You will need to apply for a permit. The owner-builders permit fee is currently $294.05.
• In Queensland you can only obtain 1 owner-builders permit in any 6 year period.
• The permit only allows for the construction of a single personal dwelling.
• It is required that the owner-builder complete an accredited course in General Site Safety Induction and that it is provided by an approved training organization. In QLD the course is the 39219 QLD Course in Preparation for owner-builder Permit. This course will need to be completed when the total commercial value of the building works (including GST) exceeds $11,000.
• For more information contact the QBSA http://www.bsa.qld.gov.au

New South Wales (NSW)

• In NSW an owner-builder is anyone who does Building works, including improvements, on their home where the market value of the work (including labour and materials) exceeds $12,000.
• Where the above building works exceeds $12,000, an approved owner-builder's course must be completed prior to receiving the building permit.
• Where the building works is less than $12,000 but greater than $5,000 an owner-builders permit will still be required although completion of the owner-builder's course is not required.
• The owner-builders permit fee of $143 is payable to the Office of Fair Trading in NSW.
• If the Owner-Builder sells their home within 6 years from the date of completion of the works, they are required to take out Home Warranty Insurance where if the market value of the project including labour and materials was greater than $12,000.

Victoria (VIC)

• An owner-builder is someone who carries out domestic building work on their own land and is not normally in the business of building.
• An owner-builder can only obtain a building permit once in any three year period.
• Must either live in the home or intend to live in the home as a principle place of residence.
• If the owner-builder wishes to sell the property within 6.5 years of construction then they must provide warranty insurance cover to the purchaser.
• The owner-builder must obtain a Certificate of Consent from the Building Practitioners Board before being granted a building permit when the value of the building works exceed $12,000.
• In Victoria, the only compulsory insurance an owner builder must take out is insurance for protection work. Protection work is work undertaken to protect and make safe an adjoining property from any damage.

South Australia (SA)