Permit authority

Topics

Section 8: Change of classification or use of a building

Sometimes a building owner or occupier may wish to use the building for a purpose contrary to the approved use or classification of the building detailed on the current occupancy permit. The Building Act sets out the process for obtaining approval for either a change of classification or a change...
A guide to the building approvals process in WA
15 Dec 2015

Section 7: Providing information to the FES Commissioner

The Building Act contains certain provisions requiring prescribed information to be provided to the Fire and Emergency Services (FES) Commissioner. Building surveyor requirements (r. 18B) For certain Class 2 to Class 9 buildings, the building surveyor responsible for signing the certificate of...
A guide to the building approvals process in WA
14 Dec 2015

Section 6: Notices of completion and cessation

The Building Act requires the responsible person (i.e. builder or demolition contractor) to provide certain notices for the completion or suspension of work under a building or demolition permit. Notice of cessation (s. 34) The person named as the builder or demolition contractor on a building or...
A guide to the building approvals process in WA
14 Dec 2015

Section 1 (continued): Coverage, exemptions and responsibilities

As part of its enforcement role, a permit authority can inspect building work and investigate Building Act compliance matters and, where relevant, issue infringement notices, building orders or commence prosecution for non-compliance. There are three types of permit authority: Local government For...
A guide to the building approvals process in WA
10 Dec 2015

Building in designated bush fire prone areas

In Western Australia, building work is required to comply with the performance requirements of the Building Code of Australia (the Building Code), which comprises Volumes One and Two of the National Construction Code Series. The Building Code contains specific bush fire construction requirements...
Building in bush fire prone areas
01 Dec 2015

Section 5: Permits and processes

WATCH
Types of permits and their processes One: Building permit Two: Occupancy permit Three: Building approval certificate Four: Occupancy permit strata Five: Building approval certificate strata Six: Demolition permit One Building permit
page24.jpg
page24.jpg, by ebleakley
In general a building permit...
A guide to the building approvals process in WA
01 Dec 2015

Section 4: Typical approval sequence

WATCH
General sequence chart
Building approvals process page 22
Building approvals process page 22, by ebleakley
Building approvals process page 22 Note: for uncertified applications, the certificate of design compliance is obtained by the relevant permit authority after the application is submitted. Typical building approval sequence – Class 1 and...
A guide to the building approvals process in WA
01 Dec 2015

Section 3: Building standards

The Building Act adopts the Building Code of Australia (BCA), being Volumes One and Two of the National Construction Code series, as the primary applicable building standard for all new building work, new buildings and incidental structures. The applicable building standards apply whether or not a...
A guide to the building approvals process in WA
30 Nov 2015

Section 2: Certificates of compliance

A certificate of compliance is required before a building permit, occupancy permit or building approval certificate can be granted by a permit authority. There are two signatures on a certificate of compliance: the signature of the building surveying practitioner registered under the Registration...
A guide to the building approvals process in WA
30 Nov 2015

Section 1: Coverage, exemptions and responsibilities

Coverage The Building Act 2011 (the Building Act) applies to buildings and structures attached to or incidental to a building. What is a building? There is no formal definition of a building in the Building Act; it takes its normal meaning, such as in a dictionary or in normal conversation. In the...
A guide to the building approvals process in WA
30 Nov 2015

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Publications

Compliance report – A summary of technical building inspections (Class 1 - residential buildings) 2019–20

READ
The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety - Building and Energy Division (Building and Energy) has developed an audit program to monitor whether registered building service...
Building and Energy
Reports
04 Dec 2023

General inspection report five – Investigation into re-roofing of buildings

READ
General Inspection (Investigation) Report Five – Investigation into the re-roofing of buildings, provides an overview of Building and Energy’s investigation into the cause of roof failures from...
Building and Energy
Reports
26 Jul 2021

Industry Bulletin 140 – National Construction Code 2019 Volume Two: Complying with energy efficiency requirements

READ
This bulletin is intended for practitioners, energy efficiency assessors and permit authorities to provide a summary of the residential energy efficiency requirements that are applicable in Western Australia from 1 May 2021.
Building and Energy
Bulletin
31 May 2021

Decision paper – Swimming pool and safety barrier control

READ
This Decision Paper is the final stage of an extensive review of WA’s regulatory requirements for swimming pools and their associated safety barriers, following the recommendations in the Ombudsman’s...
Building and Energy
Discussion paper
20 May 2021

Industry Bulletin 138 – Weatherproofing – Windows and doors

READ
This bulletin provides guidance on the selection and installation of windows and doors. It is intended to assist in improving the standard of design, documentation and building compliance to reduce water penetration into buildings during wind driven rain events.
Building and Energy
Bulletin
06 May 2021

Industry Bulletin 137 – Updated BA3 and BA18 certificate of compliance forms for building surveyors

READ
New versions of the BA3 – Certificate of design compliance (CDC), and BA18 – Certificate of building compliance (CBC) forms have been approved and published by the Building Commissioner. The changes to these forms are the result of the Building Amendment Regulations 2021 (the Amendment Regulations) that were published in the Government Gazette on 13 April 2021 and commence operation on 1 May 2021.
Building and Energy
Bulletin
30 Apr 2021

Industry Bulletin 136 – Building Amendment Regulations 2021 for bush fire

READ
The Building Amendment Regulations 2021 (the Amendment Regulations) were published in the Government Gazette on 13 April 2021 and commence operation on 1 May 2021. The Amendment Regulations address administrative matters around the conclusion of transitional arrangements for bush fire in the Building Regulations 2012 (the Building Regulations), and other related issues. In general, the Amendment Regulations provide ongoing concessions relating to compliance with the Building Code bush fire construction requirements.
Building and Energy
Bulletin
30 Apr 2021

2024 Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards: Nomination submission information

READ
This document provides essential information to assist you with your Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards submission. Further information 2024 Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards: Terms and...
WorkSafe
Information
28 Feb 2024

Building legislation review schedule

READ
This schedule lists the dates when building related legislation administered by Building and Energy is scheduled to be reviewed and the current status of those reviews
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
12 Feb 2021

Licence Reform program

READ
The Digital DMIRS Strategy seeks to improve the department’s operations and service delivery through the effective use of technology. Some goals of the strategy are to modernise digital systems and...
Corporate
Information
23 Dec 2020

Pages

Announcements

Former builder penalised for unapproved and non-compliant work – Jeffery Thomas Jennings

Building work at a Kalgan property did not match the approved plans Issues included excessive height and an unauthorised carport Mr Jennings failed to properly manage and supervise a building service A former registered builder has been fined the maximum amount of $5,000 by the Building Services Board for deviating from approved plans and building standards while constructing a house in WA’s...
Building and Energy
Media release
06 May 2021

Former shire building surveyor fined $1,000 for misleading conduct – Darryle Baxter

Former Shire of Cuballing building surveyor unintentionally misled the Shire of Narrogin Errors included the wrong type of certificate, no DFES review and non-compliant fire hydrants Building Services Board penalty followed a Building and Energy investigation A former local government building surveyor has been fined $1,000 for misleading a neighbouring shire when he incorrectly certified...
Building and Energy
Media release
03 May 2021

Building surveyor cautioned over deficient documents – Modesto Giancaspro

The Building Services Board has cautioned a local government building surveyor for failing to ensure that adequate information was included in the certification of work at a Bicton property. The Board found that Modesto Giancaspro (BSP190) was negligent or incompetent while carrying out building surveying work when he signed a certificate of building compliance (CBC) issued by the City of...
Building and Energy
Media release
22 Mar 2021

Building surveyor fined for misleading classification – Daniel Ross Smee

The Building Services Board has fined a building surveyor $1,000 for misleading the Shire of Toodyay by knowingly signing a certificate with the wrong building classification. Daniel Ross Smee (BSP293) provided a certificate of building compliance (CBC) in March 2019 for additions and alterations to a Julimar property, including a bedroom, games room and sunroom. The Board was told that Mr Smee’s...
Building and Energy
Media release
18 Feb 2021

Regulators’ reminder of portable pool dangers

Building and Energy and Consumer Protection have joined forces to warn parents and retailers about the risks and rules when using and selling portable pools this summer. Building and Energy oversees WA’s swimming pool safety barrier standards, which are enforced by local governments, while Consumer Protection regulates product safety. On average, one child a year drowns in a portable pool in...
Building and Energy / Consumer Protection
Media release
21 Dec 2020

Have your say on building industry registration

WA’s building regulator is seeking public comment on proposals to review registration requirements for building practitioners and contractors. The consultation is part of Building and Energy’s broad review of the compliance and enforcement framework for the WA building industry. The main aim of the initiatives is to improve confidence in the building sector and respond to a major national report...
Building and Energy
Media release
26 Nov 2020

Non-compliant building work costs supervisor – Christopher John Joseph Brereton

The supervisor of a house construction in Shelley has been fined $5,000 after several areas, including the roof and ceiling, failed to comply with approved plans or building standards. The Building Services Board found that Christopher John Joseph Brereton (BP102223) breached WA’s building registration laws by failing to properly manage and supervise a building service. Mr Brereton was a co-...
Building and Energy
Media release
12 Nov 2020

Builder and supervisor fined for unauthorised work at hotel – Jaxon Construction Pty Ltd and Christopher Christou

South Perth building company Jaxon Construction Pty Ltd (BC12208) has been fined $5,000 for negligence after carrying out unauthorised building works that deviated from the approved plans for a Perth hotel development. The Building Services Board also issued a $2,500 fine to the builder’s nominated supervisor, Christopher Christou (BP/BC6285), for failing to properly manage and supervise the...
Building and Energy
Media release
10 Nov 2020

South West builder on notice for work without permit – Matthew Dean Jansen

A Bridgetown builder has been formally cautioned for negligent conduct after he carried out work without a building permit. The Building Services Board found Matthew Dean Jansen (BC101487, BP101779) breached WA’s building registration laws during a home construction project in Bridgetown, which he took over in April 2019 after the original builder went into liquidation. Mr Jansen started work at...
Building and Energy
Media release
06 Aug 2020

Northern suburbs builder cautioned over contract – Dwayne Alcock

The Building Services Board has issued a formal caution to a Mullaloo builder after his partner’s business entered into a contract to do a $300,000 commercial fit-out, but the registration and building approval documents were issued to him as an individual building contractor. In 2018, the City of Joondalup received a building permit application and a notice of completion that identified Dwayne...
Building and Energy
Media release
06 Aug 2020

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