Frequently Asked Questions Building and Plumbing Permits DOC/15/37315 Do I need a building permit, or a plumbing permit? Work type Current Act Proposed New Building Act 1 I want to build a garden-shed in the backyard do I need a permit? 2 I have a garage but want to lengthen it by 2 meters do I need a permit? Exempt from a Building Permit if shed is less than 18m 2 in area. Even if the cost of the work is over $5,000 (e.g. kit shed and concrete floor, and labour costs) it is still exempt from a Building Permit. However where shedding of roof water would cause a nuisance to other owners it will require a Plumbing Permit and work required to be performed by a licensed plumber. Exempt from a Building Permit if work costs less than $5,000 and is classed as a minor alteration after notified to a building surveyor. Exempt from a Building Permit if shed is 36m 2 or less. No need to notify anyone of intention to perform that building work. Also exempt from requiring a Plumbing Permit. However where shedding of roof water would cause a nuisance to other owners it is Notifiable Plumbing work and is work required to be performed by a licensed plumber. Exempt from a Building Permit. Structural alterations will require a Notification of that work to a building surveyor, but will not require an application for a building permit. Consumer, Building and Occupational Services Department of Justice
Work type Current Act Proposed New Building Act 3 I want to put a deck on the back of my house (only 300mm off the ground) do I need a permit? 4 I want to build a shed on my farm to house machinery do I need a permit? 5 I want to build a hayshed on my farm; 6 I want to put an extra toilet in the shearing quarters on the farm Exempt from a Building Permit if: less than 1m above ground level constructed of timber products < 900mm from a boundary not in a bushfire prone area If shed is over 18m 2, it requires a Building Permit If shed is over 18m2, it requires a Building Permit No Building Permit required (this is not building work). As an additional sanitary fixture, it will require a Plumbing Permit and work by a licensed plumber. Exempt from a Building Permit. Decks over 1m high, or made of different materials than wood, will require notification to a building surveyor, but not require a Building Permit. If shed is over 36m 2, it will require notification to a building surveyor, but not a full Building Permit. If shed is over 36m2, it will require notification to a building surveyor, but not a full Building Permit. No Building Permit required (this is not building work). It will be Notifiable Plumbing Work but no Plumbing Permit is required. All plumbing work by a licensed plumber. 2 of 6
Work type Current Act Proposed New Building Act 7 I want to re-do my bathroom at home 8 I want to add an extra room to my house 9 I want to re-configure my office (move walls around, put in new workstations etc.) 10 I want to build a pergola in the back yard with a built in barbecue and a colourbond roof do I need a permit? No Building Permit or Plumbing Permit is required. Regarded as building maintenance or cosmetic changes if no structural work is involved. A licensed plumber is to perform all plumbing work. A Building Permit is required for the addition of a room to a house. A Building Permit is required for work that is over $5,000 and is more than minor or cosmetic changes to commercial buildings. Moving walls, even if non-load bearing, may adversely affect occupant safety (smoke detector operation is affected, distances to fire exits have been changed). As it has a solid roof it is not exempt from a Building Permit and it will require one. But if it were covered by an open weave mesh, a pergola up to 20m 2 is exempt work. No Plumbing Permit required. No need to notify work to anyone. A licensed plumber is to perform all plumbing work. It will require Notification to a building surveyor, but not a building permit Will require Notification to a building surveyor. They may then decide, that the nature and extent of the work is either: Notifiable Work and they can handle it completely as the regulator ; or It requires the full building permit process and the owner also has to apply to the council. Consistent with the proposal to exempt sheds, garages and carports up to 36m 2 it will also not require a Notification to a building surveyor. 3 of 6
Work type Current Act Proposed New Building Act 11 I want to put up a carport - do I need a permit? 12 I want to add an ensuite to my master bedroom - do I need a permit? 13 I want to put an extra storey on my house - If 18m 2 or less, no Building Permit is required as it is an exempt outbuilding (same as a shed). Plumbing Permit is required for the roof plumbing. A Building Permit is required as the work is unlikely to be a minor alteration if it is over $5,000. Building Code provisions for waterproofing of wet areas also need to be considered leaking showers are a very common building defect. A Plumbing Permit is also required for a new installation. A Building Permit is required for a habitable addition of this size and for its effect on the load bearing walls of the existing building. Roof plumbing will require Notification to the Permit Authority, but not a full Plumbing Permit. It will however, require a Notification to a building surveyor, and to the Permit Authority, as being Notifiable Building Work and also Notifiable Plumbing Work Proposed that as an addition to an existing detached dwelling, it will require a Notification to a building surveyor, but not a full building permit. Note for question 1: it is proposed that the size of sheds that will be exempt from a permit, and are also under what is to be Notifiable Work, will be set at 36m 2 (equal to a two car garage). A final size of these exempt sheds is yet to be decided and is subject to receiving more stakeholder comments. Current steps - where a building permit is required for most building work: a) Owner wants building work and a Building Design to their requirements is prepared by licensed designer. 4 of 6
b) Application by the owner to the building surveyor for a Certificate of Likely Compliance. Building Surveyor performs an assessment of that design, and considers the National Construction Code and the Building Regulations, before giving that Certificate. c) Owner then applies to the Council Permit Authority for a Building Permit. d) Once that Building Permit is granted, the builder gives their Notice to Start work to the building surveyor. e) Building Surveyor gives their Authorisation to Start Work to the builder, with a copy to the Permit Authority. f) At various mandatory stages the builder is to give their notification to the building surveyor, that the work is: i. ready to be inspected; or ii. is complete. g) When the work is completed, the building surveyor performs a final inspection and grants a Certificate of Final Inspection (work is finished and Code compliant). h) Council Permit Authority grants a Certificate of Completion (Building Work) to the owner and all work under that Permit is complete. Proposed system - Steps for Notifiable Building work : a) Owner wants building work and a Building Design to their requirements is prepared by an accredited designer. b) Application by builder (on behalf of the owner) to the building surveyor for a Certificate of Likely Compliance and a Notice to Start (a request to be authorised to start work on a specified date) c) Building surveyor performs an assessment of design, and considers the National Construction Code and the Building Regulations, then gives their Certificate. d) At the same time, the building surveyor may also give their Authorisation to Start Work to the builder, copy to the Permit Authority. e) Builder later gives their notification to the building surveyor at the various stages, that work is: i. ready to be inspected; or ii. is completed. f) When work is complete, the builder then gives their Certificate of Compliance (Notifiable Building Work) to the building surveyor (that all work is finished and is Code compliant) 5 of 6
g) If building surveyor accepts the builder s certificate, and does not require any more inspections, the work is then complete and a copy of that Certificate is provided to the council Permit Authority and the owner. Key Differences between these processes: For Notifiable Building Work: a. The building surveyor is the sole regulator and has to make all key decisions. There is no application for a Building Permit to the council and the role of the Permit Authority is limited to receiving and keeping copies of certain documents. b. Combining of the application for assessment and permission to start work in one process (Certificate of Notifiable Building work and a Notice to Start). c. Builder has to give a document certifying that work is finished and meets National CC requirements. More responsibility placed on them. If a Certificate of Compliance (Notifiable Building Work) is shown to be incorrect, or the work it relates to is deficient or incomplete, that is evidence of an offence and the builder faces disciplinary sanctions from the licensing administrator. Potential advantages of the introduction of Notifiable Building Work : overall, there are less regulatory steps in the building process less regulators are involved only one (the Building Surveyor) instead of two less number of forms for the applicant to complete faster approval times no waiting for council building approval inspections are at the discretion of the building surveyor commensurate with the nature and risk level of the work and the track record of the builder potential for some small reduction in direct fees for services for the owner - as there is no fee for lodging an application for a building permit with the council. Most savings will apply to smaller projects where current regulatory costs can be disproportionate to the cost of the actual work. Contact details Consumer, Building and Occupational Services PO Box 56, ROSNY PARK TAS 7018 Phone: 1300 366 322 Fax: 03 6173 0205 Email: wstinfo@justice.tas.gov.au Web: www.justice.tas.gov.au