This Practice Note provides guidance on the application of disability access requirements under the Building Regulations 2018.

The content below provides guidance on the following matters:

• Buildings to which the provisions apply
• Concessions
• Compliance pathways

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to AC-01 Access to buildings for people with a disability

• Superseded 30 March 2023 (PDF, 752.2 KB)

This Practice Note provides guidance on when a building permit is not required for the proposed building work, and

• Requirement to obtain a building permit
• Exemptions from the requirement to obtain a building permit

Superseded Document

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to BP-01 When is a building permit required:

• Superseded 20 December 2023 (PDF, 872.29 KB)
• Superseded 1 November 2023 (PDF, 869.02 KB)

This Practice Note provides guidance for building surveyors for amending a building permit in compliance with the Building Act 1993 and the Building Regulations 2018.

The content below provides guidance on:

• Power to amend a building permit
• When an amendment to a building permit is appropriate
• Recalculating the cost of the building work when amending a building permit
• Considerations for planning permits
• Protection of adjoining property and the public
• Report and Consent

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to BP 02 | Amending a Building Permit

• Superseded 18 April 2023 (PDF, 814.14 KB)

This Practice Note is to provide guidance on the requirements for Relevant Building Surveyors (RBS) when multiple surveyors are appointed for different stages on the same building project to ensure compliance with the Building Act 1993 and the Building Regulations 2018.

The content below provides guidance on:

• Building projects with multiple building permits
• Working with other building surveyors
• Certificates of Final Inspection and Occupancy Permits
• Essential safety measures

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to BP 03 | Building projects with multiple building permits

• Superseded 22 March 2023 (PDF, 818.72 KB)

This Practice Note provides guidance on issuing a building permit for building work on an allotment, prior to the registration of the plan of subdivision, to ensure compliance with the Building Act 1993 (the Act) and the Building Regulations 2018 (the Regulations), and:

• Issuing a building permit prior to registration of plan of subdivision
• Difference between certified and registered plan of subdivision
• Subdivision process
• Evidence of ownership of an allotment

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to BP-04: Issuing building permits prior to registration of plans of subdivision

• Superseded 24 June 2022 (PDF, 1303.37 KB)

This Practice Note outlines the requirements in respect to an application for a building permit for a stage of building work in accordance with the Building Act 1993 (the Act) and the Building Regulations 2018 (the Regulations), and:

• Application for a building permit for a stage of building work
• Report and consent requirements
• Calculating and paying the building permit levy
• Documents lodged with the relevant council
• Carrying out of building works

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to BP 05 Building Permit for a Stage of Building Work

• Superseded 24 June 2022 (PDF, 1301.77 KB)

This Practice Note provides guidance for Relevant Building Surveyors when implementing the requirements of section 24 of the Building Act 1993 (the Act), and:

• Integration of building and planning permit systems
• Importance of a planning scheme and planning permit Insert header here
• Establishing whether a planning permit is required for proposed building work
• Consistency between a building and planning permit
• Inconsistency between the Regulations and a planning scheme (regulation 68)
• When the RBS proposes to amend a building permit

This Practice Note provides guidance on time limits for building work, extensions to building permits and lapsing of building permits to ensure compliance with the Building Act 1993 (the Act) and the Building Regulations 2018 (the Regulations), and

• Time limits for building work
• Extension of building permit
• Notice of imminent lapse of building permit
• Lapsed building permits
• Building permit time limits administration procedures

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to BP 07 Time limits for building work and lapsed building permits

• Superseded 23 June 2022 (PDF, 733.19 KB)

This Practice Note provides guidance for building surveyors on the requirements of section 24(5) of the Building Act 1993 (the Act).

The context below provide guidance for:

• Understanding development contributions plans
• Determine if a community infrastructure levy has been paid

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to BP 08 Building Permits and Community Infrastructure Levies

• Superseded 22 June 2022 (PDF, 200.52 KB)

This Practice Note provides guidance on the requirements for issuing Occupancy Permits in compliance with the Building Act 1993 (the Act) and the Building Regulations 2018 (the Regulations), and:

• The occupancy permit process
• Conditions on occupancy permits
• Duty of care when issuing an occupancy permit
• Conducting the final inspection
• Additional requirements
• Exemptions

The purpose of this Practice Note is to provide guidance on requirements for occupancy permits for places of public entertainment and prescribed temporary structures, and:

• Place of public entertainment (POPE)
• Obtaining an occupancy permit for a POPE
• Obtaining an occupancy permit for a prescribed temporary structure

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to BP 07 Time limits for building work and lapsed building permits

• Superseded 20 April 2023 (PDF, 803.84 KB)

This Practice Note clarifies the requirements in obtaining a report and consent where building work
may affect assets or infrastructure of service authorities, to comply with the Building Act 1993 and the Building Regulations 2018.

The content below provides guidance on:

• Report and Consent
• Who is defined as a reporting authority
• When is a report and consent required
• Building permit amendments and report and consent requirements
• Occupancy permits and report and consent requirements
• Fees and time limits
• Roles and responsibilities
• Decisions on applications
• Appeals

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to BP 11 | Report and Consent

• Superseded 21 March 2023 (PDF, 758.68 KB)

The purpose of this Practice Note is to provide guidance to building surveyors and other practitioners about a building surveyor’s discretion to exempt building work or buildings from complying with the Building Act 1993 (the Act) and the Building Regulations 2018 (the Regulations) in certain circumstances, and

• Exemptions from compliance with Regulations
• General principles
• The application of new regulations to building work
• Historic buildings and special buildings
• Combined allotments
• Change of use
• Subdivision of existing buildings
• Alterations to existing buildings
• Alterations affecting exits and paths of travel

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to BP 12 | Exemptions from Compliance with Regulations

• Superseded 31 Jan 2024 (PDF, 818.38 KB)
• Superseded 30 Mar 2023 (PDF, 758.82 KB)

This Practice Note provides guidance on compliance with sections 24A and 24B of the Building Act 1993 (the Act), relating to the specification of builders on a building permit, and on section 25A of the Act, relating to notification of ending of the engagement of a builder.

The context below provides guidance on:

• Building permit requirements
• Section 24A – Further limitations checklist
• Section 24B – Specification of builder checklist
• Change of Builder – Notice of ending of engagement of builder and suspension of building permit

This Practice Note provides guidance for a relevant building surveyor (RBS) when accepting and relying on a certificate of compliance under the Building Act 1993 (the Act) and the Building Regulations 2018 (the Regulations), and:

• Issuing certificates of compliance
• Reliance on a certificate of compliance
• When certificates of compliance are not provided
• Independent reviews

This Practice Note provides guidance on building permit and cladding rectification levy, payable by the applicant before their building permit is issued.

The content below provides guidance on:

• Levy calculation
• Applications for levy reimbursement
• Levy reassessment

This Practice Note is to provide guidance on Part 11A of the Regulations that sets out the requirements for emergency accommodation buildings.

The content below provides guidance on:

• What are emergency accommodation buildings
• Notification to be given to the relevant councils
• Construction requirements
• Exemptions from certain requirements
• Offences

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to BF 01 Emergency Accommodation Buildings - Part 11A

• Superseded 10 November 2023 (PDF, 803.69 KB)
• Superseded 18 April 2023 (PDF, 744.94 KB)

This Practice Note is to provide guidance on documenting and assessing performance solutions.

The content below provides guidance on:

• Documenting determination of performance solution
• RBS relying on certificate of compliance
• Certificate of Final Inspection and Occupancy Permits

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to PS 01 Documentation and Assessment

• Superseded 18 April 23 (PDF, 734.63 KB)