Building & Plumbing Information

Please find information and forms about Building and Plumbing. For further information regarding any of the information listed below, please contact 03 6352 6500 and ask for the relevant officer.

The Building Act 2016 came into effect on 1 January 2017 and there are changes to the process and way that applications are lodged. Further amendments came in effect on 1 August 2017.  Forms and information provided have been updated to reflect these changes.

 Please call 03 6352 6500 to arrange a time to see then or email development@dorset.tas.gov.au to organise an appointment to meet with one of the development team members.

On this page:

  1. Application Forms
  2. Useful Building, Plumbing and Demolition Forms
  3. Building Guides
  4. Building Process Flowcharts
  5. Frequently Asked Questions - Building
  6. Frequently Asked Questions - Plumbing
  7. Contact Us
  8. Standard Drawings and Specifications

Application Forms (all are formatted to be filled out electronically)

  1. Building Work Application (Form 2)
  2. Plumbing Work Application (Form 3)
  3. Application for Permit of Substantial Compliance (Form 9)
  4. Demolition Work Application (Form 1)
  5. Fees - Regulatory Assessment

Useful Building, Plumbing and Demolition Forms (all are formatted to be filled out electronically) 

Building Guides

Building Process Flowcharts

Frequently Asked Questions - Building

The following frequently asked questions should provide relevant information to help you with your building application and the building process.

1. 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..

2. 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 Department of Justice.

3. 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 Department of Justice or a number of these forms are provided above.     

4. Where can I find information regarding current building issues?

Advisory notes and news updates are issued to assist in the interpretation of Tasmanian building legislation and to keep the Building Industry informed of developments occurring with the National Construction Code and its reference documents.

Further information is available at advisory notes Department of Justice advisory notes 

 5. What are my responsibilities as an owner/builder?

Under the Building Act 2016 to be an owner builder, you must satisfy the following criteria:

An owner builder needs to reapply for owner builder status for each separate project they do.

A project may be building a house, or extending an existing dwelling.

A person who wants to be an owner builder should apply to Licensing see Occupational Licensing Act 2005.

An owner builder must also apply for a building permit for each project they undertake.This is regardless of the risk category which would be applied to the work if it was undertaken by a licensed builder.

All work undertaken by an owner builder is automatically permit building work.

For further information regarding the owner/builder registration process please discuss with our Development staff or go to Department of Justice website -

7. 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 the Building 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.

If your question hasn't been aswered above, it may be included in the Department of Justice FAQs.  Click here to view their information.

Frequently Asked Questions - Plumbing

The following frequently asked questions should provide relevant information to help you with your plumbing application the plumbing process. (Please note plumbing work is incorporated within the Building Act 2016.)

1. Plumbing Work and Plumbing Permits

 It is your responsibility as the property owner in conjunction with a building surveyor and/or designer to ensure that a certificate of likely compliance and/or plumbing permit is in place prior to commencement of any plumbing work.

If you believe a plumbing permit is not required you should seek confirmation from a building surveyor, designer, and from the registered plumber undertaking the project prior to commencing any works.

2.    What application forms do I need for plumbing 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 Department of Justice or a number of these forms are provided above

3. General Plumbing Information

 4. Registered Plumbers

All plumbing work as defined by the Building Act 2016 including installing, altering or maintaining a plumbing installation (i.e. roofing, drainage, pipe work) must be undertaken by a plumber who holds an appropriate certificate of registration under the Occupational Licensing Act 2005.   For further information visit the licence databases on the department of justice website. 

Contact Us

If you are unable to find the relevant documents or information, or unsure of the relevance of the information you have accessed, please call or email us for assistance

P 03 6352 6500

E development@dorset.tas.gov.au 

Standard Drawings & Specifications

Standard Drawings and Specifications can be viewed and downloaded here