Occupancy permits are issued at the completion of building or renovating works, in relation to places of public entertainment, or for temporary structures, following an inspection of the works or site by a building surveyor.
An occupancy permit is required for all building work, except:
- building work that the building surveyor considers to be minor
- building work that the building surveyor considers does not affect the suitability of the building for occupation
- Class 10 building, or an alteration to a Class 1a building
- building work within a sole occupancy unit in a Class 2 or 3 building.
An application for an occupancy permit must be made to the building surveyor responsible for granting the building permit.
Public entertainment cannot be held in certain buildings or temporary structures unless an occupancy permit has been issued permitting its use for entertainment.
The building permit will state whether an occupancy permit is required for the building. When an occupancy permit is required the building must not be occupied unless the occupancy permit has been issued for the building.
An occupancy permit is evidence that the building is suitable for occupation. The occupancy permit specifies conditions to which the use of the building is subject including the purposes for which the building can be used, the maximum number of people that can be accommodated within it and essential safety measures that must be implemented.
