An owner builder permit will only be issued for work on a residential building (detached dwelling or a conjoined unit). Permission won’t be issued for any work on commercial buildings. Restrictions include:
- Only two owner builder projects are allowed in a ten-year period. However those two projects can include two entirely new dwellings.
- Owner builders cannot keep performing more work on what they have already constructed. Each new building project must receive a new owner builder permit.
- There is a fee for each owner builder permit (registration) issued
- Owner builder insurance
- Fee and insurance requirements for owner builders are the same as a licensed builder.
Farmers and sheds
- Building farm sheds up to 72m2 do not require an owner builder permit
- Notify your council if you are building a larger shed.
Home projects
- Smaller sheds and outbuildings (Low Risk Buildings) are exempt from owner builder registration
- The Building Act 2016 further simplifies the building approvals process. A homeowner can build:
- a shed, garage or carport up to 18m2, or up to 36m2 if prefabricated.
- a porch or veranda up to 9m2, or a deck up to 1m high
- a temporary swimming pool up to 9m2 with a child safety fence
- perform maintenance or repairs on a dwelling using similar materials as those replaced.
Notifiable or permit work
An owner builder still requires a building permit for notifiable or permit work on a residence (Class 1a).
Building work over $20,000
Building work on a residence over $20,000 requiring a Certificate of Likely Compliance needs an owner builder permit.
Applicants
- Applicants can live outside of Tasmania
- Owner builders don't have to live in their residence
- Licensed builders can also apply for an owner builder permit
- A person who has signed a contract to buy land or a building is also classed as an 'owner'.