Building approvals and certification

During construction, certain stages of building work must be certified to ensure your project meets safety standards and complies with regulations. Certification is an important safeguard for home owners, confirming that the work has been completed correctly and is structurally sound.

A building certifier is a qualified professional who is responsible for checking that your builder has complied with the approved building plans and appropriate building provisions.  

Building certifiers have a range of responsibilities, which include:

• assessing and approving plans related to new, altered and existing building work
• inspecting construction work at mandatory stages, such as before concrete is poured for footings or slabs, or after a house frame is completed but before the internal walls are put up
• providing certificates of inspection to the home owner, contractor and local authority
• issuing enforcement notices where required
• giving final approval for a building to be occupied.

Usually, your builder will engage a certifier on your behalf. However, you can choose to appoint a certifier directly. Learn more about finding a local contractor and getting quotes.  

If you are building a pool, you will need to get the right building approvals before starting and upon completion. Learn more about the pool building process.  

If you are an owner builder, different requirements apply so you need to refer to the information for contractors.

Next: Commencing construction