Apply for a Permit/Approval

There are two ways to apply for a Building Permit in Western Australia - either by submitting a Certified Building Permit application, or an Uncertified Building Permit application.

Certified application

The Certified application process allows the owner or applicant to choose to have the plans and specifications certified by a registered Building Surveyor.  Once the Building Surveyor is satisfied that the documents comply with the applicable building standards, a Certificate of Design Compliance (CDC) is issued for the proposed works.

The applicant then submits the CDC, application form Form BA1 plans and specifications referenced on the CDC to the Permit Authority for assessment. 

Once the Permit Authority is satisfied that all aspects of the Building Act 2011 (Act), including all Planning and Health requirements have been met, a Building Permit is issued, allowing the person named as the builder on the Building Permit application to commence building works.

Uncertified application

The Uncertified application process allows the owner or applicant to submit the plans and specifications to the Permit Authority to be assessed for compliance with the applicable building standards, by a Building Surveyor employed by the Permit Authority.

Once the Permit Authority's Building Surveyor is satisfied that the plans and specifications comply with the applicable building standards and that all aspects of the Act, including all
Planning and Health requirements have been met, the CDC and Building Permit are issued, allowing the person named as the builder on the Building Permit application to commence building works.

All of the following information will be required to be submitted with a Certified Building Permit application;

• A completed Form BA1
• Certificate of Design Compliance (CDC);
• Any document referenced on the CDC;
• Site plan indicating setbacks to all lot boundaries and a finished floor level, if applicable;
• Floor plan;
• Elevations;
• Evidence that all planning conditions have been met;
• A completed Application Submission Checklist (Certified)

Building applications will not be accepted unless lodgements include all required information and the building application fee and all relevant State levies have been paid.

All of the following information will be required to be submitted with an Uncertified Building Permit application;

• A completed Form BA2;
• Site plan indicating setbacks to all lot boundaries and a finished floor level, if applicable;
• Floor plan;
• Elevations;
• Site classification report (this is required for Class 1 new buildings and additions only);
• Structural engineering documents;
• Energy efficiency documents, if applicable;
• Evidence that all planning conditions have been met, if applicable;
• A completed Application Submission Checklist (Uncertified)

Building applications will not be accepted unless lodgements include all required information and the building application fee and all relevant State levies have been paid.

A Notice of Completion Form BA7 must be provided to the City by the person named as the builder on the Building Permit within seven days of the completion of the Building Permit works.

A Notice of Cessation Form BA8 must be provided to the City within seven days of the day that the person named as the builder on a Building Permit stops being responsible for the building works.

A new responsible person must then be appointed for the remainder of the building works by submitting a Form BA19 to the City.