When you need an owner-builder permit, eligibility requirements, and how to apply.
On this page
Key information
When an owner-builder permit is needed
Eligibility
How to apply
Replace an owner-builder permit
Qualifications needed
Contact us
Key information
- In NSW, you need an owner-builder permit to supervise or do work valued at over $10,000 on your own home, and you're not contracting a licensed builder to supervise the work.
- If the work is valued at more than $20,000, you also need to complete certain units of competency or have the approved equivalent qualifications and experience.
- As an owner-builder, you are responsible for the building work as a fully licensed builder would be.
- Only one owner-builder permit can be issued within any five-year period unless the application and any earlier permit relate to the same land, or special circumstances exist.
When an owner-builder permit is needed
An owner-builder permit is for people who have the skill or capacity to build their own house or supervise the construction work.
If you want to supervise or do building work worth more than $10,000 on your own home, and you're not contracting a licensed builder to supervise the work, you need an owner-builder permit.
While an owner-builder permit is not a builder’s licence, as an owner-builder, you are responsible for the building work just as a fully licensed builder would be.
What is owner builder work?
Owner-builder work is any work, including supervision and coordination of the construction, alterations, repairs or additions to a property:
- where the reasonable market cost (including labour and materials) exceeds $10,000, and
- which relates to a single dwelling-house, dual occupancy or a secondary dwelling that:
- requires development consent under Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, or
- is a complying development within the meaning of that Act.
To be eligible for an owner-builder permit, the development approval must be in respect of a single dwelling-house or a secondary dwelling.
Note: an owner-builder permit will only be issued regarding a dual occupancy in cases of special circumstances.
An owner-builder permit cannot be issued for:
- renovations to an existing apartment/unit/flat/townhouse within a strata complex
- property not for residential purposes.
What are my limitations under the permit?
An owner-builder permit is not a building licence. It does not allow you to do:
- work other than the project covered by the development application or complying development certificate
- specialist work such as electrical, plumbing, gasfitting, air-conditioning and refrigeration work (unless you hold a licence for such work).
Only one owner-builder permit can be issued within any five-year period unless the application and any earlier permit relate to the same land, or special circumstances exist.
Learn more about your responsibilities working as an owner-builder.
Eligibility
Who can apply
To be eligible to apply for an owner-builder permit you must:
- be at least 18 years old
- be the owner or joint owner of the land, or
- be a shareholder in the company that owns the land, or
- have a lease, registered with NSW Land Registry Services, for more than 3 years on the land
- not have started the building work
- show that the property is not part of a multi-dwelling strata complex
- intend to live in the property after the building work is complete or, in the case of a secondary dwelling being constructed, one of the dwellings
- have completed the owner-builder approved education requirements or equivalent accreditation if the cost of building work is $20,000 or more, and can attach a copy of your completed accreditation
Special circumstances
In some cases, you'll need to show that there are special circumstances that justify your application.
Please download and complete the additional details form to include with your online application if:
- you or any other registered parties have held an owner-builder permit within the last 5 years, and/or
- the type of construction is dual occupancy.
You can also visit a Service NSW centre to complete your application in person.
How to apply
What you need
Before you begin your application make sure you have:
- a MyServiceNSW account
- proof of identity
- acceptable documentation showing proof of ownership or long-term lease agreement relating to the land specified in your application, such as:
- council rates or water rates notice less than one year old
- Certificate of Title from NSW Land Registry Services
- solicitor settlement letter showing settlement date (cannot be future dated and must be less than 3 months old)
- copy of the lease (minimum 3 years) registered with NSW Land Registry Services.
- estimated cost of the building work for labour and materials
- details of the proposed plans
- a copy of approved development consent (not an application number) such as:
- development approval (DA) from the local council
- complying development certificate (CDC) from the local council or accredited certifier.
- a current white card (general construction induction training card)
- evidence that you've completed the owner-builder approved education requirements (or equivalent accreditation) if the value of work exceeds $20,000
- payment for the licence fee. See our fees page for details.
All owners of the land must be listed in the application. Other owners will not be able to apply for another owner-builder permit relating to different land for 5 years.
For the current white card (general construction induction card) mentioned above, Fair Trading will also accept a Safework Statement of Training issued within 60 days before your application. This acknowledges that it may take up to 60 days to issue the white card once you have completed the relevant training.
Fair Trading will also accept, in certain circumstances, interstate general construction induction training cards or cards issued in NSW under previous arrangements that are recognised under Work Health and Safety laws.
False or misleading information
You can be prosecuted under the Crimes Act 1900 if you falsely state or leave out information in an application for an owner-builder permit.
The penalty for making a false or misleading application is imprisonment for up to 2 years, or a maximum fine of $22,000 or both.
The Fair Trading Commissioner can also cancel a permit if it is discovered that a permit holder misrepresented information in their application.
Apply now
Apply online at the Service NSW website.
To begin, select the ‘Apply now’ button below.
Your application will take about 20 minutes to complete.
To apply in-person, download and complete the relevant application form, gather any documents you need and book an appointment to submit your application at a Service NSW Centre.
What happens next?
Review application
Your application will be reviewed and assessed to check it meets eligibility requirements. This can take up to 3 business days to process.
We might contact you if we need more information.
If we need to request additional information, the processing time will increase, so it is important that you submit all required information and documents with your original application.
If you apply at a Service NSW centre and your application is successful, your permit can be issued while you wait.
Outcome advised
We will send an email to advise you if your application has been successful.
If your application is successful, the email will include a copy of your permit and your details will be added to the public register.
If your application is unsuccessful, you’ll be advised of the reasons in writing and be provided with your options.
Replace an owner-builder permit
If your permit has been damaged, lost or stolen, you can apply for a replacement at a service centre.
- Download and complete the Application for Duplicate Licence, Certificate or Permit (PDF) form.
- Visit a service centre and submit your application and fee payment in person.
Change the details on an owner-builder permit
If any details have changed since your permit was issued (except for a change of name), you'll need to visit a service centre and apply for a new permit.
If details such as your name or address have been incorrectly recorded, you can contact a service centre and have your permit amended.
Once an owner-builder permit has been granted, there is no option for cancellation unless a clear error was made at the time of granting, and the permit should not have been issued.
Changing your mind, altering plans, or contracting a licensed builder to carry out the work are not considered errors, and the permit cannot be cancelled.
Qualifications needed
If your home renovation work is valued over $10,000, you need an owner–builder permit.
If the work is valued at more than $20,000, you will also need to complete certain units of competency or have the approved equivalent qualifications and experience. Find out what you need below.
If the work does require an owner-builder permit, you must hold a current white card (or general construction induction training card).
Owner-builder approved education requirement
The owner-builder education requirement consists of the following five units of competency:
- CPCCWHS2001 Apply WHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry (current), or
CPCCOHS2001A Apply OHS, requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry, and - CPCCOM2001 (current) Read and interpret plans and specifications, or CPCCCM2001/CPCCCM2001A , and
- CPCCCM1011 (current) Undertake basic estimation and costing, or CPCCCM1011A , and
- CPCCOM1013 (current) Plan and organise work, or CPCCCM1013/CPCCCM1013A , and
- CPCCOM1014 (current) Conduct workplace communication, or CPCCCM1014/CPCCCM1014A.
Owner-builder equivalent accreditation
The following accreditations also meet the education requirements for an owner-builder in NSW:
- Currently hold or have ever held:
- any of the approved qualifications for a general building work licence or qualified supervisor certificate.
- a NSW general building work contractor licence that is not limited in the scope of work.
- a NSW trade class of building licence or certificate (for proposed work in that trade only).
- a NSW qualified supervisor certificate in the category of general building work that is not limited in the scope of work.
- Credentialled as an accredited building certifier.
- Currently employed as a council building inspector/surveyor/consultant.
Owner-builder education providers
Choose an organisation that can deliver the five units of competency.
Before enrolling in any training, you should ensure the provider is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Visit the training.gov.au website to check the RTO status of a training provider.
Current white card (general construction induction training card)
Visit SafeWork NSW to apply for a white card (or general construction induction training card). This is a mandatory requirement for all owner-builder permit applications.
Contact us
Need help applying?
If you need help with your application or have a question, please call 13 32 20.
Unsuccessful applications
If your application is unsuccessful, you can ask for a review.
A review involves another officer from Fair Trading, who was not involved in the original decision, reviewing the decision on your application.
For more information about the process see reviews of Fair Trading decisions.