City of South Perth - Lodge a Building Permit Application

Lodge a Building Permit Application

Guiding information and access to online form to lodge a certified or uncertified building application.

Last updated on: 04 September 2024

In this article

Building applications
Application information
Register or sign in
Submit an application
Lodgement guidance
Post lodgement process

Building applications

To obtain building approval, an application must be lodged with the permit authority that has responsibility for the area in which the building is (or is intended to be) located.

As a permit authority under the Building Act 2011, the City controls the construction, occupation and demolition of buildings and incidental structures through the granting of building, demolition or occupancy permits and building approval certificates and the enforcement of compliance with permits.

Application information

Building permits

Building permits are controlled by the Building Act 2011 and the Building Regulations 2012. A permit is required for any building works involving the construction of structures, alterations or extensions and changes to ground levels. Works include (but are not limited to):

commercial buildings including fitouts and refurbishments
residential dwellings including additions and alterations
carports, sheds, garages and workshops
decking, patios, verandas, gazebos and pergolas
swimming pools and spas
rainwater tanks
front fences and retaining walls.

A building permit must be obtained before commencing any building work. If you are unsure whether a building permit is required, please contact the City's building services team on 9474 0777.

Certified and uncertified applications

There are two types of building permit applications, certified and uncertified.

Certified applications are submitted when the applicant has already engaged a private building surveyor to check the plans and specifications of the proposed building. They then complete a certificate of design compliance, confirming that the proposal complies with the applicable building standards. This takes place before the application for a building permit is submitted to the City to assess. The City then has 10 business days to decide on a certified application.
Uncertified applications are submitted directly to the City without a certificate of design compliance. An independent building surveyor is appointed by the City to check the proposal and provide a certificate of design compliance. The City has 25 business days to decide on an uncertified application.

Do I need development approval?

In many situations Development Approval is required prior to submitting a Building Permit application
If you are uncertain whether approval is required for your development, one of the City's urban planners is available to attend to general planning enquiries during business hours. Please call 9474 0777
Alternatively, you can complete a Written Planning Advice enquiry.

Building Permit applications that do not meet these requirements may be refused and fees forfeited.

Important requirements

All conditions of Development Approval should be cleared with the City's planning services team before submitting a Building Permit application, accompanied by a clearance letter issued by the City's planning services team
The building permit drawings must match those of your Development Approval stamped drawing and DA Conditions Clearance drawings
Accompanying the drawings should be the specifications, an addendum and other information such as termite treatment and energy efficiency compliance checklist.

Do I need stormwater approval?

Home Indemnity Insurance (HII) requirements

Owner-builders are responsible for the building work carried out for a minimum of six years. If the owner-builder sells the home within seven years from the date of a building permit being issued, they are required under the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 to have in place a policy of home indemnity insurance that covers subsequent owners if problems with the building develop and the owner-builder is unable or fails to rectify faulty or unsatisfactory workmanship due to disappearance, death or insolvency.

The home indemnity insurance policy must cover the purchaser of the home and subsequent owners for the remainder of the seven year period.

All residential building work valued over $20,000 must be covered by home indemnity insurance, however home indemnity insurance is not required for associated work, such as building only a pergola, fence or swimming pool.

Home indemnity insurance can be obtained by contacting an approved insurance provider.

Building Commission website

Construction Training Fund (CTF) website

To help offset training costs, Construction Training Fund (CTF) collects a 0.2 per cent levy on building projects and returns the revenue back into the industry via training subsidies and programs. The construction levy is collected on all projects in Western Australia and is valued at over $20,000 and benefits employers, current and future workers, and the wider community.

Refer to the Construction Training Fund website for further information.

Building application enquiries

One of the City's building information officers is available to attend to general building application enquiries during business hours. Enquiries can be made as follows:

By phone - a message will be taken by the customer service team if the building information officer is unavailable
In person - by appointment at the Civic Centre. Please call to make an appointment
In person - from 9.30-10.30am or 3-4pm at the Civic Centre (no booking required).

Building application forms and checklists

Fees

Other related information

Retaining Walls

You are responsible for building a retaining wall if you change the level of the land on your property either by excavation or building. This ensures there is no risk of earth movement. The responsibility for maintaining the wall passes on to any person buying the property.

If the retaining wall is higher than 500 mm, you will need a Building Permit and Planning Approval. The height of the retaining wall is measured from the natural ground level to the top of the wall.

Demolition

Verge Licence

During building operations, approval is required if the builder intends to store any materials on the verge. During building operations, other than for the placement of goods on the verge for immediate transportation onto the building site, a builder is required to submit an Application to Store Materials on Verge to deposit building material on, or excavate near a street as prescribed in the Building Regulations.

Register or sign in

To submit an application, you will need to register or sign in for a mySouthPerth account. Click the Register and Sign In option at the top right of this page to proceed.

For assistance with your mySouthPerth account, visit our information page.

Already signed in?

If you see your initials at the top right-hand corner of this page, you are already signed in.

Submit an application

To submit an application, proceed below.

Before you begin

Prior to commencing the application via the link below, ensure you have an electronic copy (eg scan) of the following documentation prior to completing the application process:

Application for Building Permit Form, either certified or uncertified
One set of architectural and structural drawings, site plan and details (refer below for further information)
Home Indemnity Insurance (HII) if cost in excess of $20,000 (unless it is an excluded development - refer above).

You will be required to attach this information during the application process.

Further guidance on plans

One set of architectural and structural drawings, site plan and details (scale of 1:100 for architectural and structural; 1:200 for site plan; and 1:50 or 1:10 for details)
The architectural drawings must include a site and floor plan of every storey, with all elevations and a section that provide all dimensions, levels, height of each storey and the construction details of walls and roof. Structural details must be signed by a certified practicing structural engineer

Do you have development approval?

All conditions of Development Approval should be cleared with the City's planning services team before submitting a Building Permit application, accompanied by a clearance letter issued by the City's planning services team
The building permit drawings must match those of your Development Approval stamped drawing and DA Conditions Clearance drawings
Accompanying the drawings should be the specifications, an addendum and other information such as termite treatment and energy efficiency compliance checklist.

Certificate of Design Compliance example

Home Indemnity Insurance example

Application attachments

Please ensure you are attaching all plans, materials and supporting information relevant to the application as part of your initial lodgement. Any omissions or additional materials will be required to be sent as separate emails, which will be limited to standard email size limitations (eg 10MB).

I have a Certificate of Design Compliance (BA01)

Apply for Building Permit - Certified BA01

I DO NOT have a Certificate of Design Compliance (BA02)

Apply for Building Permit - Uncertified BA02

Lodgement guidance

Type of location - property or land?

When lodging your application, you are presented with two options to search the location.

To use the Property search method, click on Property and enter the street number and street name (eg 199 Thelma Street, or 2/203 Thelma Street, or 205B Thelma Street).

To use the Land search method, click on Land and enter the lot number and plan number (eg Lot 3497 DP187254, or Lot 1 SP5985).

Where can I find the lot and plan numbers?

Refer to the Certificate of Title, especially if it has been recently subdivided.

Alternatively, you can refer to the City's mapping tool. Via mapping, search and select the location. Scroll down to the Land - Property Information section via the information to the right of the page. The data for the land search is the Lot on Plan data. You can copy and paste this information into the land search when you start your application.

What if there are no land details in mapping?

I cannot lodge as I have errors

Do I complete any section/s with 'for City officer use only' in it?

How do I attach documents?

The lodgement process may include requirements to attach documents. Please refer to the Before you begin section on this page in relation to requirements and ensure you have this information prior to commencing the process. You will be presented with options for mandatory and optional documentation.

Mandatory documentation

Mandatory document types will be displayed within the mandatory documentation section. There may be more than one document required, and the name of each document will be listed.

To add the document, click the Add button, search and select the correct document then click Open. A pop up will display with your document name as well as the attachment type. Select Save when complete. The document will then be uploaded to the lodgement.

Please note, if you have more than one document for this mandatory field, you can select Add Another via the pop up or Add via the main screen once you have attached the first document.

Complete the process for each mandatory attachment type.

Optional documentation

The lodgement process will also include the ability to attach optional documentation. Please ensure you refer to the Before you begin section of this page for guidance on required documentation as not all may be listed as mandatory.

To attach optional documentation, click the Add button under Optional Attachments, search and select the correct document then click Open. A pop up will display with your document as well as a drop down section to select your Attachment Type. Click the drop down and select the correct type. Select Save when complete. The document will then be uploaded to the lodgement.

Repeat this process for each additional document.

Post lodgement process

Once your application is lodged, the following steps will apply:

Your application will be reviewed to ensure all required information/documentation has been provided. You will be contacted if anything is missing
When all documentation has been received, the lodgement process will be complete
The application will then be assessed and the following timeframes apply:
Certified applications can take up to 10 business days from acceptance for a decision
Uncertified applications can take up to 25 business days from acceptance for a decision.

Please take the time to check that the application is complete. An incomplete application may be returned and the fees forfeited.

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Lodge a Building Permit Application

Lodge a Building Permit Application

Building applications

Application information

Building permits

Certified and uncertified applications

Do I need development approval?

Important requirements

Do I need stormwater approval?

Home Indemnity Insurance (HII) requirements

Building Commission website

Construction Training Fund (CTF) website

Building application enquiries

Building application forms and checklists

Checklists

Fees

Other related information

Retaining Walls

Demolition

Verge Licence

Register or sign in

Already signed in?

Submit an application

Before you begin

Further guidance on plans

Do you have development approval?

Certificate of Design Compliance example

Home Indemnity Insurance example

Application attachments

Lodgement guidance

Type of location - property or land?

Where can I find the lot and plan numbers?

What if there are no land details in mapping?

I cannot lodge as I have errors

What if there are no fields outlined in red?

Do I complete any section/s with 'for City officer use only' in it?

How do I attach documents?

Mandatory documentation

Optional documentation

Post lodgement process