Home buyer / owner

Topics

Drainage plumbing diagrams

As part of the State Government’s COVID-19 coronavirus economic relief package to support businesses and households, fees for notices of intention, drainage diagrams and compliance certificates have been waived for 12 months from Wednesday 28 October 2020 until Wednesday 27 October 2021 (inclusive...

Certificates and diagrams

21 Jun 2016

Designated bush fire prone areas – Frequently asked questions

The following frequently asked questions (FAQs) are provided to assist industry and homeowners to understand the bush fire requirements under the building legislation, including the Building Code of Australia (BCA) bush fire requirements, and to assist those who wish to upgrade their existing homes...

Building in bush fire prone areas

08 Apr 2016

Section 12: Keep up to date

Subscribe to Building and Energy's industry bulletins and newsletters to stay informed of: general industry trends; legislative changes; updates about registration and licensing; upcoming events and seminars; public consultations; and much more. Have you subscribed to news and updates? Sign up to...

A guide to the building approvals process in WA

16 Dec 2015

Section 11: Work affecting other land

A person responsible for building or demolition work must ensure that the work does not affect land beyond the boundaries of the works land. However there may be the potential for this to occur in certain circumstances, for example where work is on small sized lots or where construction is close to...

A guide to the building approvals process in WA

16 Dec 2015

Section 10 (continued): Processing applications

Lodging the application Applications for building, demolition or occupancy permits or for building approval certificates can be submitted in a variety of ways, including in person, by post or electronic lodgement depending on the systems the relevant permit authority has in place. Under the...

A guide to the building approvals process in WA

15 Dec 2015

Section 10: Processing applications

Choosing the correct form To provide for consistency in building approvals throughout the state, all the relevant application forms, notices and compliance certificates are approved by the Building Commissioner and available on the Building and Energy website. Providing the correct application form...

A guide to the building approvals process in WA

15 Dec 2015

Section 9: Unauthorised building work

In general a person must not carry out building work without a building permit where one is required. However the Building Act allows a person to make an application to the relevant permit authority to approve unauthorised building work in relation to a building and/or incidental structure. This...

A guide to the building approvals process in WA

15 Dec 2015

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

Pages

Publications

Beldon Electrical Accident Report

Building and Energy's investigation into the cause of the electric shock is summarised in this report.

Building and Energy

Reports

27 Sep 2019

Industry Bulletin 123 – Gate hinges in private swimming pool safety barriers – AS 1926.1

This document provides guidance on the compliant installation locations of gate hinges used in private swimming pool safety barriers.

Building and Energy

Bulletin

23 Sep 2019

Regional Services Review consultation paper and feedback form

The Regional Services Review - Consultation Paper is now available for all stakeholders to have their say.

Corporate

Consultations / public comment

16 Sep 2019

Reforms to the building approval process for single residential buildings in WA – CRIS

Reforms to the building approval process for single residential buildings in Western Australia – Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement seeks comment on three options for reforming the building...

Building and Energy

Consultations / public comment

12 Sep 2019

Changes to the map of bush fire prone areas

The McGowan Government has announced improvements to the bush fire policy framework including changes to the Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas for 19 inner metropolitan local governments (from Stirling to...

Building and Energy

Fact sheet

31 Jul 2019

Guide to Standards and Tolerances WA 2019

Every year thousands of homes are constructed or renovated in Western Australia. While most building projects are completed successfully, occasionally there may be concerns or unmet expectations that...

Building and Energy

Guide / handbook

25 Nov 2019

Western Australia guide to standards and tolerances 2019

The Western Australia guide to standards and tolerances 2019 (the Guide) has been developed for use by builders and building owners as a convenient reference for acceptable standards of workmanship...

Building and Energy

Guide / handbook

30 Jul 2019

Report - Review of the Architects Act 2004 (DRIS)

A statutory review of the Act was undertaken to ensure that it is still applicable to the modern functioning of the architectural industry, reduce red tape where possible, and examine the...

Building and Energy

Reports

27 May 2019

Helpful checks when choosing a building service provider

Your home is usually your biggest investment, so it's worth doing your research before deciding who will undertake your building project. Undertaking a few practical checks at the start can help...

Building and Energy

Fact sheet

21 Dec 2018

Do not pin the gate open

Propped open pool gates and faulty latches are a leading cause of drowning deaths in young children. It only takes seconds for a child to drown, so regularly check that the latch is working and never...

Building and Energy

Fact sheet

20 Dec 2018

Pages

Announcements

Commissioner's blog: Short term rentals – look before you lease

If you’ve got a spare room or investment property, you may be considering advertising the space for short-term renting to make some extra money. Or perhaps you’re a local travelling across WA, who’s on the look-out for somewhere to stay that’s different to what’s on offer from traditional accommodation providers. Whatever your motivation, it’s clear that Western Australia’s short-term rental...

Consumer Protection

Media release

17 Sep 2020

Electrician’s error leaves house unprotected – Anthony Michael Kiely

A Caversham electrician has been fined $10,300 after he failed to install an essential safety system at a Cloverdale house, which could have resulted in electrocution of the occupants. At Perth Magistrates Court, Anthony Michael Kiely (EW133300, EC10793) was also ordered to pay $535 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching WA’s electricity licensing regulations, following a prosecution by...

Building and Energy

Media release

27 Aug 2020

Unregistered painter’s brush with the law – Christopher Robert Larden

An Innaloo tradesman has been fined $1,500 and ordered to pay almost $600 in costs after he falsely presented as a registered painter and carried out painting work that requires registration. Christopher Robert Larden did not appear at Armadale Magistrates Court on 4 August 2020 when he was sentenced for breaching WA’s building registration laws, which stipulate that only a registered painting...

Building and Energy

Media release

19 Aug 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

Illegal appliances spark electrical safety alert and infringements

WA’s energy safety regulator is urging consumers, sellers and importers to check that household electrical equipment is approved for sale in Australia after two retail chains each received $5,000 fines for selling illegal and potentially hazardous lamps. Building and Energy issued the infringement notices after a site inspection revealed some Turkish-style lamps in the stores lacked the required...

Building and Energy

Media release

05 Aug 2020

Dangerous error costs electrician $27,000 – Santo Sgroi

A North Perth electrician has been ordered to pay more than $27,000 in fines and costs for a potentially lethal wiring error that caused two tradesmen to receive electric shocks at a building site near Rockingham. A criminal trial concluded at Perth Magistrates Court on 10 June 2020 when Santo Sgroi (EW105860) was found guilty of breaching WA’s electricity licensing regulations following a...

Building and Energy

Media release

13 Jul 2020

Energy efficiency matters

The objective of energy efficiency provisions in the Building Code of Australia (BCA) is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and for a dwelling, this requires compliance with the minimum energy efficiency Performance Requirements that relate to the building envelope and its fixed domestic services. When applying these provisions for residential dwellings, building surveyors, designers and...

Building and Energy

Department News

09 Jul 2020

Smoke alarms not to be located in dead air space

Clause 3.7.5.5 – Installation of smoke alarms is a new clause that has been introduced to the residential Fire Safety provisions of the 2019 edition of the Building Code of Australia (BCA 2019), Volume Two of the National Construction Code. Clause 3.7.5.5 Installation of smoke alarms Smoke alarms required by 3.7.5.3 and 3.7.5.4 must be installed on or near the ceiling, in accordance with the...

Building and Energy

Department News

02 Jul 2020

Pool safety checklist

Building and Energy is letting building industry practitioners know about its new private swimming and spa pool safety barrier checklist. It is a simple self-assessment tool to check the basic elements of a pool’s safety barrier. The checklist is not intended to replace the four-yearly inspection conducted by the relevant local government to verify compliance. Whilst the checklist isn’t...

Building and Energy

Department News

29 Jun 2020

Pages