Building FAQs

Owner-builder laws provide more protection for consumers, genuine owner-builders and registered building practitioners. Under these laws, unregistered builders can no longer avoid registration fees and insurance by operating as surrogate owners or by persuading owners to be the builder.

Owner-builders:

• must have a certificate of consent from the Victorian Building Authority to obtain a building permit for domestic building work valued over $16,000
• may only obtain building permits for a single dwelling and associated work on a single property in any three-year period
• must reside and continue to reside, or intend to reside in the single dwelling
• must pay a fee to the Victorian Building Authority.

Find out more on the Victorian Building Authority website.

Installing a pool or spa involves a number of specialist trades and techniques. You may engage a registered building practitioner or choose to do the work yourself as an owner-builder.

If you engage a registered building practitioner to do the work, they must provide:

• a major domestic building contract (over $5,000)
• domestic building insurance (over $16,000).

If you do the work as an owner-builder, you must obtain a certificate of consent from the Victorian Building Authority.

For in-ground swimming pools and spas greater than 300mm in depth, you'll need a building permit in order to undertake construction.

Yes, all swimming pools need a fence that complies with AS1926. Contact our municipal building surveyor on 1300 365 222 for advice or to book an inspection of your property.

Unfortunately, fencing disputes are a civil matter and we're not able to help either party. Visit the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria website to find out how to resolve the issue.

Your neighbour can build on the boundary. The maximum average height is 3.2m and the overall maximum height cannot be more than 3.6m. When assessing a building permit where there is a wall on the boundary building surveyors must consider the impact on the adjoining property such as the location of habitable room windows and the impact on secluded private open space.

If the problem with your builder is contractual, you'll need to consult your solicitor. If your builder has breached the Building Regulations you can contact the relevant building surveyor who issued your permit or the Victorian Building Authority.