When would I require a building permit?
For the purposes of the Building Act 2016, all building work is permit building work unless the work is -
(a) low-risk building work or low-risk demolition work; or
(b) notifiable work or notifiable demolition work; or
(c) emergency work.
Permit work must be -
(a) Designed by a designer, and
(b) performed by a licensed builder who is licensed to perform the permit building work; and
(c) inspected by a building surveyor as required under the Building Act.
For further information you will need to contact your Building Surveyor or discuss your building work with your licensed builder or visit Department of Justice website..
What are my responsibilities under the Building Act?
The Building Act 2016, the Building Regulations 2016 regulate building and plumbing work in Tasmania. These laws and codes apply to everyone who undertakes building and plumbing work.
Further information is available at Consumer, Building and Occupational Services.
What application forms do I need for building works and certificates?
All building/plumbing applications are lodged with the Dorset Council's development team. There are a number of other specified forms supporting the Building Act 2016 and the Building Regulations 2016 that standardise applications for building works and required certificates which can be accessed at Consumer, Building and Occupational Services or a number of these forms are provided above.
How to become an Owner Builder
If you're planning on becoming an owner builder, check out the requirements and full information at the Consumer, Building and Occupational Services website.
The owner must engage a building surveyor and:
- Take your completed plans to a building surveyor and tell them that you intend to be an owner builder
- Apply for an owner builder registration certificate through the building surveyor completing an Application form for an owner builder permit
- The application form to be lodged at a Service Tasmania shop with supporting documents, particularly insurance and training certificate as evidences of having undertaken the owner builder course and make the payment of the owner builder permit fee - click here for more information
What are the requirements for Maintenance of my building?
Certain buildings require an owner to maintain the essential building services. These include fire safety features, exit routes, air flow systems and other matters as prescribed by the Director of Building Control in theBuilding Regulations 2016, Section 72.
If a building is extended or altered, the responsible person must ensure that these services are not impacted and continue to ensure the health, safety or disability access of the occupants. Before occupancy of a building is granted, a building surveyor will work with the owner to develop a schedule of maintenance for the essential building services. This will specify the nature and frequency of testing that must be carried out on essential building services. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that the maintenance schedule is adhered to.
For an existing building, the maintenance schedule must be approved by a building surveyor.