Easter Long Weekend Opening Hours

Please be advised that the City administration building and several City facilities, including the Darius Wells Library and Resource Centre, will be closed for the Easter long weekend from Friday, 18 April through to Monday, 21 April (inclusive). 

Bins will not be collected on Good Friday (Friday, 18 April), residents impacted are advised to place their bins out on Saturday, 19 April by 6am. Collection for Easter Monday (Monday, 21 April) and the ANZAC Day Public Holiday (Friday, 25 April) remain unchanged, for any enquiries please contact 1300 293 955.

We look forward to seeing you again from Tuesday, 11 April. 

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Permits and Applications

A building permit is required for all residential, commercial or industrial structures including new works, alterations, additions, swimming pools, spas (below and above ground), patios, sheds and more. The Building Act 2011 does provide an exemption for certain works from requiring a building permit, however we recommend you contact the City’ Building Services team to confirm prior to commencement of any construction.

Application for a Building Permit

To apply for a building permit, please follow these rules:

  1. Only the registered builder listed on the WA.gov.au website can sign the builders section of the required forms where the cost of construction is $20,000 or more. Where the value is less than $20,000 or the building/structure is listed as being exempt from requiring a registered builder the person responsible for completing the construction can sign this section. A registered builder is required for relevant building work with a value over $20,000. Certain structures are exempt from requiring a registered builder even though the estimated cost of the works exceeds $20,000. We recommend you contact the City to confirm if the works proposed require a registered builder or not.
  2. Site plans must be clear and easy to read, without any old approvals or stamps. They must show all existing structures and the new work being proposed. For more details, see Building Application Drawing Requirements.
  3. Most buildings/structures will require certification by an authorised practising structural engineer. The applicant must include signed and stamped drawings by the engineer. Where a roof structure is required, the drawings should demonstrate gutter size, downpipe location, and soak well capacity.

For more information or feedback, email the City's Building Services Team.

Application form

You can download the Building Permit Application form from the DEMIRS - Department of Building and Energy. Once complete, submit your application online under 'Planning, Building, Health Applications' via our online portal Kwinana Connect.

Building and Permit Guidelines 

Verge permit

The City understands that construction work may need to use the verge area (the space near the road). However, building and demolition work can often cause damage to City property like roads, footpaths, drains, and trees.

For more information, read the Verge Permit Brochure​​​​, or submit a Verge Permit Application Form.​​

Occupancy permits

Some building, other than single residential dwellings and associated works, require an Occupancy Permit.
For more information, see When Do I Need to Obtain an Occupancy Permit?​

Demolition permits

A demolition permit must be granted before the demolition of any building or part of a building or structure can take place.

For more information, see When is a Demolition Permit Required?​ and Demolition Information Sheet​​.​

Strata title applications

A strata title is a means of dividing up a property title to allow for multiple ownership.

The Local Authority, in this instance the City of Kwinana, only forms a part of the approval process for having a Strata Plan lodged with Landgate for their endorsement and issue of the Strata Titles.​

For more information, see What is a Strata Title?​ ​​

Retrospective approval

If you have done building work without prior approval, or purchased a property with unauthorised structure/s, you may be able to submit an application to obtain retrospective approval from the City of Kwinana.

For more information, see What is Unauthorised Building Work?​​​ and Retrospective Building Approval Process.​

Signs

What type of approval is required?​

Depending on the type of sign/advertising that is proposed, a Building Permit may be required, and in some instances a Planning Approval may be necessary.

Some signs can be constructed without any approvals if they are exempt from the Building and Planning Legislation. Such exemptions depend on size, location, sign face of the proposed sign/advertising device and the zoning of the land where the sign will be erected.

For further information, please contact the City's Building Services on 9439 0472.​​

Important Information for Builders

Most building work and some changes in how a building is used need approval. For advice before applying, contact our Building Services team.

Building work includes removing internal walls, installing fittings, replacing windows and doors with glass, building rooms in roof spaces, and constructing garages or extensions.

Fees and Charges

The costs for building permits and applications are listed in the building fees and charges document. 

Building permit fees are set by the State Government and are based on a percentage of the total cost of construction, which includes labour, materials, and other expenses. The fee also depends on whether the work is Certified or Uncertified.

If you submit a paper application by mail or at the City’s office, there will be a $45 scanning fee.

Further Information

When is a Building Permit Required?​​​​​

When Is Build Permit Required?

A Building Permit is required before starting any construction work, including:

  • New buildings (homes, commercial, or industrial)
  • Alterations and extensions
  • Sheds, patios, and carports
  • Swimming pools and spas (above or below ground)
  • Pool and spa safety barriers (fences)
  • How to Apply for a Building Permit

To apply, you need to submit a Building Permit Application Form along with your building plans and details.

There are two types of applications:

  • Uncertified Applications – For houses (Class 1) and outbuildings (Class 10). These take up to 25 business days to process.
  • Certified Applications – For commercial and industrial buildings (Class 2–9). These take up to 10 business days to process.

If you have a house or outbuilding, you can also submit a certified application if a registered Building Surveyor has approved your plans.

Owner Builders

If the total building cost is over $20,000, you must apply for Owner Builder Approval from the Building Commission before lodging your permit application.

Important Timeframes

If extra information is needed, you have 21 days to provide it.

If missing information is not provided in time, your application may be refused, and fees may not be refunded.

How to Apply

Submit your Building Permit Application online through the City of Kwinana's Online Lodgement Portal.

Submit your building application online under 'Planning, Building, Health Applications' via our online portal Kwinana Connect.

 

Building Permit Application - Terms and Conditions​​

Who Issues Your Building Permit?

When you apply for a Building Permit, the City of Kwinana – Building Services becomes the official Permit Authority. This means we check that your plans meet Building Act and Regulations requirements. However, we do not check the quality or safety of the construction itself.

What’s Included in the Permit Fee?

  • Assessment of your application (with one request for extra information if needed).
  • Mandatory inspections (if required for your project).
  • Issuing or refusing the permit.

Extra Services That Cost More

Some services are not included in the standard fee and will cost extra:

  • More than one request for extra information.
  • Help getting property details, legal advice, or planning information.
  • Comments on special design requests or alternative building solutions.
  • Changes or extensions to an existing permit.
  • Extra inspections outside business hours or for non-required checks.

Your Responsibilities as the Applicant, Builder, or Owner

  • Provide accurate and complete information.
  • Follow the conditions of the Building Permit.
  • Book and pass all required inspections before moving to the next stage of construction.
  • Do not use or live in the building until an Occupancy Permit is issued (if required).
  • Pay all fees when submitting your application.

Applying for a Building Permit

  • You must provide all required documents to show your plans follow the Building Act 2011 and Building Regulations 2012.
  • Pay the application fee and government levy when you apply.
  • The City will review your application and either:
    • Approve it,
    • Approve it with conditions, or
    • Refuse it (if refused, you must submit a new application with a new fee).
  • You can apply to change or extend your permit, but this also requires a new application and fee.

Inspections

  • Some projects must have inspections before work can continue. These will be listed on your Building Permit.
  • You must book inspections at least 24 hours in advance.
  • Inspections check for compliance with the law but do not assess the quality of work.
  • Extra inspections or inspections outside business hours cost more and must be arranged with the City.

For more information, contact City of Kwinana Building Services at 9439 0472 or building@kwinana.wa.gov.au.

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