What Is an Owner Builder?
In Victoria, an owner builder is someone who takes on the role of a builder for their own property without engaging a registered builder. You can legally carry out domestic building work on your own land — but only if you hold the correct permit and meet strict eligibility requirements under the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995.
Owner Builder Checklist Victoria
Before applying for your building permit, make sure you have the following in order:
- Proof of land ownership (copy of title via LandData)
- Completed Owner Builder Application Form
- Letter of Appointment (completed by the owner)
- VBA-approved owner builder education certificate (for works over $16,000)
- Architectural or working drawings prepared by a registered building designer
- Engineering documentation and soil report (where required)
- Energy efficiency report (NatHERS or deemed-to-satisfy)
- Completed application checklist relevant to your project type (dwelling, shed, etc.)
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible as an owner builder in Victoria you must:
- Own or co-own the land where the work is being carried out
- Intend to live in the property (not build for immediate resale)
- Not have held an owner builder permit for another property within the past five years
- Complete a Victorian Building Authority (VBA) approved owner builder course if the work exceeds $16,000 in value
Do You Still Need a Building Surveyor?
Yes. Even as an owner builder, you are required by law to appoint a private building surveyor to issue your building permit and carry out mandatory inspections. Permission to Build can act as your appointed building surveyor, guiding you through every stage of the approval process to ensure your project is compliant and on track.
At Permission to Build, we work efficiently to process your application and keep your build on schedule.
📞 Call us on 1300 996 947 to get started.
