There are four categories for building work which relates to the risk and how you need to proceed with it. The Director of Building Control has set out these categories to take a risk-based approach to building approval.

Category 1 – low risk

This is low risk work which can be built by the owner and does not require formal council approval or permits. It must still comply with any relevant requirements of the National Construction Code. This work sometimes requires the owner to submit a Form 80 Notice of Low Risk Work to Council. We recommend you provide the Form 80 to ensure accurate records are maintained for their property and to avoid potential complications when a property is sold.

We recommend completing a preliminary building assessment prior to determining this yourself.

Category 2 – low risk (builder required)

This is also low risk work but can generally only be built by a licensed builder. The work does not require formal Council approval or permits but sometimes requires the owner to submit a Form 80 Notice of Low Risk Work to Council. We recommend you provide the Form 80 to ensure accurate records are maintained for their property and to avoid potential complications when a property is sold.

Category 3 – Notifiable works

This work requires the engagement of licenced building practitioners such as designers, engineers and building surveyors and requires formal notification to us from the building surveyor.

Category 4 – Permit works

This work is higher risk development or commercial building work. An application for a building permit is required by completing and submitting a Form 2 Application for Building Permit along with the relevant documentation through a building surveyor.

The requirements are all set out in the Director’s Determination – Categories of Building and Demolition Work.