business.gov.au

Building Permit - Western Australia

Description

You will need a building permit before any building work can be carried out. In most cases, a permit will be required for the construction, renovation, alteration, or improvement of a building or incidental structure (e.g. swimming pool, fence, retaining wall).

There are two types of building permit, 'certified' and 'uncertified'. Buildings are classified into a particular Class, which will help you to determine if you need a 'certified' or 'uncertified' permit application.

  • certified building permits must be used for commercial buildings (Class 2 - 9) and are optional for residential dwellings and incidental structures (Class 1, 10a and 10b)
  • uncertified building permits are for residential dwellings and incidental structures only.

Contact your council directly for details specific to your intended building work.

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

Please contact the council to identify any eligibility requirements.

Duration

As specified

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Task Type Business Structure Description
Apply Application All

Certified building application fees:

  • Class 1 or Class 10 buildings - 0.19% of the estimated value of the building (minimum fee $110.00)
  • Class 2 to 10 buildings - 0.09% of the estimated value of the building (minimum fee $110.00).

Fees for 2025-26
Apply Application All

Fee for uncertified building permits is 0.32% of the estimated value of the building (minimum fee $110.00). Fees for 2025-26

Other resources

Task Business Structure Resources
Comply All Building Approvals (Opens in new window)

Act(s) name

Building Act 2011 Western Australia

Regulation(s) name

Building Regulations 2012 Western Australia

Application process

Apply

Certified Building Permit

A certified building permit application must be accompanied by a Certificate of Design Compliance (CDC) which has been endorsed by a registered building surveyor. Engaging a qualified building surveyor is typically the first step in the certified building permit approval process.

You will need to submit copies of all documentation referenced on the CDC including design certification, specifications, architectural plans, services plans, signed structural plans and fire engineering reports, (as applicable).

Uncertified Building Permit

You do not need to engage additional services of a building surveyor prior to lodging an application for an uncertified building permit. As part of the approval process, a building surveyor will conduct the technical assessment and issue the CDC and the building permit.

Your application must be accompanied by a site plan, a floor plan, elevations and structural details.

Approval time

The relevant permit authority has a limited period of time in which to approve or reject your application. For certified applications this period is 10 business days and for uncertified applications the period is 25 business days. You will have 21 days to submit any information requested by the permit authority regarding your application.

Administering agency

Your local council

Contact details

Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.