Planned maintenance and system upgrades will be carried out on DEMIRS systems on Saturday November 9th, 2024, between 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Various systems may be unavailable during this time and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Legislative framework – Building services and plumbing
Through a range of regulation reforms, Building and Energy has delivered the most significant transformation of Western Australian building laws in over 50 years.
The Architects Act 2004 provides for the effective registration of architects in WA. It regulates the use of the title 'architect', monitors professional standards and seeks to prevent conduct by non-architects that may be misleading to consumers of architectural services.
The Building Act 2011 commenced on 2 April 2012, introducing a new building approval process for WA and bringing significant changes to the building approvals process – from the design stage right through to occupation of a building.
The Act and the Building Regulations 2012 replaced the Building Regulations 1989 and much of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1960 and amend a range of associated acts.
The commencement of the Act introduced a new Building Services Levy, private design certification services provided by registered building surveying contractors and consent requirements for work affecting other land.
The Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 (Act) provides important payment protections for all participants in the Western Australian building and construction industry (some exclusions apply). It applies to construction contracts entered into on or after 1 August 2022.
The Act provides effective rights to get paid and recover debts owed, modifies and prohibits certain provision in construction contracts, and provides a number of protections for contractor performance security such as retention money and bank guarantees.
The Act deals with the process of dealing with complaints and resolving disputes, which may involve conciliation or referral to the State Administrative Tribunal, the provision of orders to remedy building work and the authorisation for audits, inspections and investigations.
A building services levy is payable on permits and building approval certificates issued under the Building Act 2011. The levy is paid to local governments for the purposes of the funding the operations of Building and Energy to regulate the building services industry. The Building Services Levy Act 2011 makes it lawful to charge the building services levy as a tax.
The Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 establishes a flexible framework for the registration of building service providers including builders, painters and building surveyors, in WA.
The Act:
provides for the registration of individuals, partnerships and companies as building service practitioners or building service contractors;
The Construction Contracts (Former Provisions) Act 2004provides a rapid adjudication process to resolve disputes that arise over payments when individuals and organisations enter into contracts for building and construction work. The Act allows for the appointment of an adjudicator and establishes time limits on the adjudication process.
The adjudication process under the Act does not cover salary or wage disputes. For assistance with resolving a salary or wage dispute, please contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94.
The Dividing Fences Act 1961 combines with local government by-laws to regulate dividing fences in WA. It covers a process for sharing costs between neighbours, the determination of boundaries and a mechanism for courts to deal with disputes over dividing fences. It does not apply to retaining walls, fence height restrictions or encroachments.
The Act sets out the minimum requirements for contracts and applies to contracts for home building and associated work valued between $7,500 and $500,000.
The Act includes:
provision of the Notice for the Home Owner;
the provision of home indemnity insurance;
requirements of home building work contracts; and
conditions regarding deposits, progress payments and variations.
The Plumbers Licensing Act 1995 provides for the authorisation of licensed plumbing contractors and tradespersons to undertake plumbing work and the administration of a compliance and inspection framework to certify plumbing work standards.
Part 5A of the Act establishes the Plumbers Licensing Board with functions to licence plumbers, regulate their plumbing work and provide the Minister with advice on the qualification and training needs of the trade.
The area of the state where registration of builders applies encompasses 137 local governments in WA. In some instances only major town sites are included.
The Home Building Contracts Act 1991 applies to all areas in WA. However, home indemnity insurance requirements do not apply on Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
Building surveyors
Persons wishing to work in Western Australia as a building surveyor, whether for local government or privately, are required to be registered. Registration is required in all areas of Western Australia, as well as on Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
Painters
The area of the state where registration of painters applies encompasses 137 local governments in WA. In some instances only major town sites are included.
The South West Land Division extends from the Kalbarri area on the West Coast and through the Hopetoun region on the South Coast. In addition, the Board's area includes specified townsites within the Shires of Coolgardie, Dundas, Esperance, Yilgarn, Laverton, Ravensthorpe and the City of Kalgoorlie/Boulder.
Painters Registration WA Map, by sgrove
Jurisdiction for the registration of painters in Western Australia.
This map highlights the areas of Western Australia where painters are required to be registered with the Building Services Board.
Note: registration is not required on Christmas Island or the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
