Do I need a permit?

While all work must comply with the National Construction Code and relevant Australian Standards, not all building work requires a building permit. For example, if a kitchen renovation is planned and none of the work adversely affects the structural soundness of the building or incidental structure, a permit may not be required.   

Building Regulations 2012 - Schedule 4, Clause 2 is used to determine whether the planned works will require a building permit. 

View the Building Regulations 2012

If you are unsure whether your building works require a permit, please contact the City’s Building Services Team. 

Make a Building Services Enquiry

Development Approval 

Although building approval may not be required, you may still need development approval, or a ‘deemed to comply’ check from the City's planning department. It is important to remember that there are differences between planning and building approvals. For further information on planning approvals, please refer to the Planning section of the City’s website.

Retrospective approvals

If works were constructed without the approval of the City of Nedlands, retrospective approval may be required to avoid follow up compliance actions. 

Retrospective approval for unauthorised work can be applied for through the following applications

  • Residential (Class 1 and 10 structures)
    • BA13 – Application for Building Approval Certficate
  • Commerial (Class 2 – 9 buildings)
    • BA09 – Application for Occupancy Permit

For information on how to apply for the above applications, please refer to: Building Services – Applying for a Permit

Thoroughfare and verge usage 

Any person undertaking works on a City of Nedlands verge or is working from the road (such as craning a pool to a private property or pumping concrete onto a construction site) is required to obtain a Permit to Use the  Verge and/or Thoroughfare. 

The verge means that portion of the street between the property line and the carriageway. 

The thoroughfare means a road or other thoroughfare and includes structures or other things appurtenant to the thoroughfare that are within its limits, and nothing is prevented from being a thoroughfare only because it is not open at each end.

For information on how to apply for a Permit to Use the verge and/or Thoroughfare, please refer to: Building Services – Applying for a Permit

Building or Constructing a Swimming Pool 

If you are installing a new pool, you will need to apply for a building permit for the pool.  

Please refer to Building Services – Applying for a Permit for information on how to apply for a building permit.

For information on the rules and regulations surrounding swimming pools and pool barriers, please refer to: Building Services – Swimming Pool Safety.