Owner builders

Pre-registration of owner builders

From 1 July2007 changes were made to the laws affecting owner builders. The important change is that the Director of Building Control must verify the eligibility of owner builder(s) before a building surveyor can issue a Certificate of Likely Compliance. This is at an early stage in the building process, well before requesting a building permit.

Who handles the registration process?

Your building surveyor will manage this administrative process, and they will seek owner builder registration on your behalf. The Director’s report will confirm owner builder status or otherwise and provide Owner Builder Registration Numbers.

Why is registration of owner builders required?

This process has the advantage of allowing land owners to determine their eligibility to be owner builders before committing themselves to contracts or other legal and financial obligations. Registration is free and the Director reports on eligibility within14 working days.

How is an owner builder’s eligibility assessed?

The assessment criteria are ownership or purchase of the land to be built on, the applicant(s) must not have already built two buildings as an owner builder since 1 July 2004 (except for any Class 10 buildings), and is not in the business of building.

What types of owner builder work need registration?

If an owner builder intends to carry out any domestic or commercial building work (Classes 1 – 9 of the Building Code of Australia classification system) that requires a building permit and exceeds $5,000, then that owner builder needs to be registered. This work includes alterations or extensions to a building. Your building surveyor must apply to the Director for a registration number.

What types of owner builder work are exempt from registration?

• work that does not need a building permit from the council
• work is $5,000 or less (cost of labour and materials)
• work on any Class 10 buildings or structures (e.g. non habitable buildings such as garages, carports, sheds etc.)

To find out the full facts about the requirements for owner builders you need an OWNER BUILDER KIT 

 Building Regulation News Update (Oct 2007) - Revised owner builder pre-registration processes

For more information, contact the Helpline.