WA's Building Regulations 2012 (Schedule 4) list the small jobs that don't need a building permit. Councils apply the same state list, so the limits below are the same across Perth. Here they are in plain English, using the City of Gosnells' summary of the list.
The exemption list
| Work | No building permit needed if |
|---|---|
| Shed, patio or gazebo | Freestanding, 10 m² or less and 2.4 m tall or less |
| Shade sail or pergola (open, no solid roof) next to a house | 20 m² or less and 2.4 m tall or less |
| Colorbond or fibre cement dividing fence | 2 m high or less and not forward of the house |
| Rainwater tank | 5,000 litres or less |
| Solar panels or hot water system on a house or its outbuilding | Always exempt, unless the roof needs structural changes or a stand to hold them |
| Freestanding mast, antenna or flagpole | 3 m tall or less (2 m above the roof if attached to a building) |
| Cosmetic renovations | Cabinetry, new benchtops, painting and non-structural repairs |
| Roof-mounted evaporative air conditioner in a bushfire-prone area | BAL-Low, or BAL-12.5 to BAL-29 with a unit that meets the bushfire standard |
| Demolishing a patio, shed, pool or similar | 40 m² or less, no asbestos risk and not heritage-protected (no demolition permit) |
Things that always need a permit
- Any swimming pool or spa that can hold 30 cm of water or more, including portable and inflatable pools.
- Any pool safety fence, whatever its height or material.
- Anything attached to the house, such as a patio, carport or verandah, at any size.
- Garages, carports and granny flats.
- Structural changes, such as removing a load-bearing wall or adding a room.
"Exempt" doesn't mean "no rules"
This catches a lot of people. An exemption only means you don't need a building permit. As the City of Gosnells puts it, exemption "does not negate the need for other required approvals, such as Development Approval and Health Approval, or the need to comply with statutory requirements, such as the National Construction Code and the Residential Design Codes".
So a small exempt shed still has to sit the right distance from your fence, stay out of the front yard and be built properly. If it breaks a planning rule, it needs planning approval even though it needs no building permit. Nobody signs off exempt work, so getting it right is up to you.
Is there a 7-year rule?
No. WA has no rule that makes unapproved work legal after 7 years (or any number of years). Work done without a required permit stays unauthorised until it is approved. The fix is a building approval certificate, which a registered building surveyor inspects and certifies.
Not sure?
Use our 20-second approval checker, or the form finder if you already know you need a permit.