Owner-builders

A builder must be registered or be an owner-builder. An owner-builder is a person who builds or renovates a domestic building on his or her own land, who is not in the business of building.

An owner-builder:

• must get a Certificate of Consent for any domestic building work with a value over $12, 000 before you can get a building permit
• can get a building permit for one single home every three years
• must not build for a profit
• must own the land or property, and
• must live in and continue to live, or intend to live in the single home. 

Certificate of Consent for an owner-builder

A Certificate of Consent says in writing that you want to be an owner-builder on your own land in Victoria.

To get a Certificate of Consent:

1. Ask for an owner-builder kit from the Building Commission.
2. Sign the statutory declaration in the kit.
3. Complete the application form in the kit.
4. Send the completed documents together with an application fee and any supporting documents to the Building Practitioners Board.

Links

• Owner-builder kit  from the Victorian Building Commission
• Risks of an owner-builder from the Victorian Building Commission
• TAFES and building display centres offer training for owner-builders