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To become an owner-builder in QUEENSLAND, you must:

1. Not have had an owner-builder permit within the past 6 years;
2. Have completed an approved owner-builder course or be granted and exemption from completing the course;
3. Provide proof of ownership of the land (current title search);
4. Own the land (have your name on the title); OR
5. Lease the land, have written permission from the owner with full description of works to be done; OR
6. Be owned by a company, have the names and signatures of ALL the directors on the application;

Regulating body: QLD Building and Construction Commission.
Time to process application: Up to 1 month.
Value required to obtain permit: $11,000.
Permit fee (approx): $450.00
How to apply for the permit? By post only.
Number of permits allowed: 1 every 6 years.
Are you required to complete an owner-builder course? Yes.
Are you required to complete an asbestos awareness course? Yes. (if property built before 1990)
Are you required to have a white-card (General Induction Card)? Yes. (1-day class or zoom)
Course fee: $185.00
Course duration: 3-4 hours.

To become an owner-builder in WESTERN AUSTRALIA, you must:

1. Not have been issued an owner-builder permit within the past 6 years;
2. Provide evidence that at least one of the applicants holds knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of an owner-builder. Evidence includes proof of completing a course for owner-builders, relevant experience or by being a registered building practitioner;
3. Provide property details form setting out the type of owner-builder work to be carried out, together with a current land title search (available through Landgate);
4. Provide a summary of your plan to undertake the building project, including identifying the involvement of any consultants such as a building surveyor or building practitioner;
5. For residential property, reside, continue to reside or intend to reside on the land on which the building work is to be carried out when the work is completed. In the case of commercial building work, the applicant must intend to occupy or use the land on which the owner-builder work is to be carried out when the work is completed.

Regulating body: WA Building Commission.
Time to process application: Up to 1 month.
Value required to obtain permit: $20,000.
Permit fee (approx): $202.00 (detached dwelling) / $467 (Small commercial building)
How to apply for the permit? Online, post or in person.
Number of permits allowed: 1 every 6 years.
Are you required to complete an owner-builder course? Yes.
Are you required to have a white-card (General Induction Card)? Yes.
Course fee: $185.00
Course duration: 2-3 hours.

1. Only individual “natural” persons who own the land and premises may apply for an owner builder permit.
2. At least one owner must undertake the approved Tasmanian Owner Builder Training Course (mandatory from the 1 September 2013). This course must be successfully completed within 12 months prior to the date of an owner builder permit application.
3. There are three Owner Builder Responsibilities approved courses. Every applicant (except shed builders) must also hold a Construction Induction card (White Card). A White Card is not required for Owner Built Permitted Sheds.
4. An applicant for an owner builder permit must have engaged a licensed building surveyor in respect of the work to be performed as an owner builder.
5. The Administrator of Occupational Licensing will check the applicant’s eligibility and if approved, will issue a permit.
6. A letter of approval with a permit number is issued to the approved applicant.

Regulating body: TAS Consumer, Building & Occupational Services.
Time to process application: 21 days.
Value required to obtain permit: $11,000.
Permit Fee (approx): $380.00
How to apply for the permit? By post at any Service Tasmania shop.
Number of permits allowed: 2 in 10 years.
Are you required to complete an owner-builder course? Yes.
Are you required to have a white-card (General Induction Card)? Yes.
Course Fee: $185.00
Course Duration: 2-3 hours.

1. Only individuals can apply for an owner-builder licence. The individuals must own the ACT land (be proprietor of the Crown lease or unit title lease) where the building work is proposed to be done under the owner-builder licence. Where there is more than one owner, all owners may be required to apply jointly or consent to one owner making the application.
2. A building approval must be issued for the work by a building certifier appointed by the owner for the work before the owner-builder licence can be applied for.
3. To be eligible for an owner-builder licence, the owner must not have been granted an ACT owner-builder licence in relation to other ACT land in the previous five years. There is no restriction on the number of ACT owner-builder licences for work on the same land parcel.

Regulating body: ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate.
Time to process application: Unspecified.
Value required to obtain permit: No minimum amount.
Permit Fee (approx): $175.00 - $250.00 dependent on type of structure.
How to apply for the permit? Online or in person.
Number of permits allowed: 1 every 5 years.
Are you required to complete an owner-builder course? Yes.
Are you required to have a white-card (General Induction Card)? Yes.
Course Fee: $185.00
Course Duration: 3-4 hours.

Development that involves construction, or buildings and structures, may require an assessment against the building rules as part of a development approval. Some examples of development include:

1. Building a house;
2. Garage;
3. Commercial buildings such as offices, shops and schools;
4. Other buildings and structures such as swimming pools, retaining walls and fences.

Regulating body:
Time to process application: Unspecified.
Value required to obtain permit: Unspecified.
Permit Fee (approx): $64.00 - $180.00 dependant on type of DA.
How to apply for the permit? By Post or in person.
Number of permits allowed: 1 every 5 years.
Are you required to complete an owner-builder course? NO.
Are you required to have a white-card (General Induction Card)? Yes.
Course Fee: $115.00
Course Duration: 2-3 hours.

An owner-builder is someone who takes responsibility for domestic building work carried out on their own land.

An owner-builder is responsible for obtaining building permits, supervising or undertaking the building work, and ensuring the work meets building regulations and standards.

In Victoria, an owner-builder can only build or renovate one house every five years and must intend to live in the house once completed.

Some of the obligations of an owner-builder last for six and a half years after completion of the building work.

In some instances, an owner-builder's property may become a workplace for the purposes of Occupational Health and Safety legislation and then certain obligations will apply.

If the value of the domestic building work to be undertaken is more than $16,000 you must have a certificate of consent from the VBA to be an owner-builder.

Regulating body: Vic Building Authority.
Time to process application: Unspecified.
Value required to obtain permit: $16,000.
Permit Fee (approx): $400.00
How to apply for the permit? Online.
Number of permits allowed: 1 every 3 years.
Are you required to complete an owner-builder course? Yes (VBA website).
Are you required to have a white-card (General Induction Card)? Yes (face-to-face only).
Course Fee: $185.00
Course Duration: 2-3 hours.