Are you planning to purchase a steel building kit? Do you want to supervise, coordinate as a Head Contractor, or even do the construction work yourself on your steel shed? Read further to find the steps you need to navigate through to be able to build your shed as an owner builder.

To kick-start your owner builder journey right, you need to apply for an owner builder permit, granted under the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011. 

What does the owner builder permit let you do?

With this permit, you can:

• Build your shed, garage or kit home on your own business property.
• Renovate or develop your existing home
• Erect an entertainment area for residential use

How to go about applying for the owner builder permit? 

To obtain the owner builder permit, you need to apply to the Building Commission of Western Australia. All owners of the land must participate in the application and at least one of the applicants must produce evidence that they possess adequate knowledge to build the shed. In lack of sufficient knowledge, you can take a course, specially designed for owner builders.

It’s important to understand that getting permission to be an owner builder (that lasts a minimum of 6 years before which you cannot reapply for another owner builder permit) does not mean that you now have the permit to build too. Once you obtain the approval from the Building Commission of Western Australia, you must still acquire a building permit from your local government permit authority.

Checklist for eligibility to apply for the Owner Builder permit 

So now after weighing your needs, you decide to proceed with the decision of obtaining the permit. It’s indeed a lengthy checklist before you apply for owner builder permit. We recommend you make sure you comply with all the points below: 

1. You supply all the details and proof of ID for all the owners
2. Obtain development approval
3. Don’t start work before approval
4. Ensure it’s not part of a multi-dwelling strata
5. You should intend to live after completion
6. You should have not obtained the owner builder permit in the last 6 years 

Additional approvals required 

You must get your owner builder permit approved by the building commission. You will need to complete and submit the owner builder application form along with all the supporting documents, and pay the application fee. It can take up to 6 weeks for your application to be assessed, and you may be contacted to supply some more information.

It’s important to remember that owner builder permits are issued to individuals and not corporations or trusts or any other entity that’s not an individual.

The building services board might need you to demonstrate your adequate knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of an owner builder, before granting you the approval. 

Being an owner-builder is a fulltime job...Really?

As an owner builder, you may feel as if you’re in a full-time job:

• Obtaining building permit before commencing the construction work
• Manage and supervise all the construction work
• Handling contractual conflicts with trade contractors and suppliers.
• With complete understanding of specifications, required quality and quantity.
• Being legally responsible for workers on the site.
• With proficiency in figuring out the bad construction.
• With expertise in meeting timelines and managing budgets.
• Being liable for all the compliances with the occupational health and safety guidelines and building standards. 

Conclusion 

Building your shed as an owner builder can be a fulfilling and rewarding project; however, you need to do due diligence and acquire sufficient knowledge about the approval process and the scope of the owner builder permit. The license does not cover: 

• Occupational work – plumbing, draining, etc.
• Erecting commercial buildings
• Renovating multiple dwellings

If you’d like to discuss your build with one of our shed specialists, give our friendly Customer Service team a call on 1300 910 353.