Our approach

The Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) conducts inspections to uphold building and plumbing standards across Victoria. Our data-driven approach targets inspections according to risk, in alignment with our Regulatory Priorities.

In most cases, building and plumbing practitioners will receive an Inspection Report that summarises the inspection and any actions that must be taken to resolve any identified non-compliances. The required actions relate to:

• the level of risk
• the parties involved
• the stage of the work.

Our risk-based approach

To protect consumers, we prioritise sites and issues that present the greatest risk to building safety and compliance. Key risk factors considered include:

• Severity of potential harm – The likelihood and potential impact of non-compliance on public safety and structural integrity.
• Practitioner compliance history – Patterns of previous non-compliance or disciplinary actions.
• Complexity of work – Projects involving higher technical risk, such as multi-story buildings or essential safety measures.
• Consumer and industry reports – Emerging trends or recurring issues flagged through complaints and intelligence.

This approach ensures our regulatory efforts are focused on where they will have the greatest impact, maximising industry accountability and consumer protection.

Non-compliances receive a risk rating

BPC officers are appointed under the Building Act 1993 and hold powers to inspect sites and issue enforcement tools. If a BPC officer identifies a non-compliance during an inspection, they will assign a risk rating to it.

To do this, the officer considers the potential consequence of the non-compliance and urgency of rectification.  The following table summarises the profile of non-compliance for each rating.

Risk rating profiles

How we select sites for inspection

Site selection and allocation is based on intelligence and risk assessment.

We use various data sources, including:

• Building permit data – Ensuring compliance at different stages of construction.
• Compliance certificate data – Auditing work that a licensed plumber has certified complies with the relevant codes, standards and regulations
• Consumer reports – Investigating alleged non-compliance, following risk triage.
• Statutory referrals – Addressing matters raised by a Relevant Building Surveyor
• Strategic priorities – Aligning with regulatory campaigns and focused areas.
• Intelligence inputs – Addressing emerging risks through data analysis.

Types of inspections

Planned inspections

Based on structured selection criteria to monitor compliance within the industry. These include building permit inspections and compliance certificate audits.

Responsive inspections

Triggered by complaints, reports, or incidents. These inspections are done selectively, after triage and risk assessment, and considering the tools and powers available to us. Drivers of these inspections include reports from consumers, practitioners and sector intelligence.

Strategic inspections

Designed to support our broader regulatory objectives. They include campaigns focused on specific compliance issues, large-scale blitzes on an issue or in a region, or inspections to gather evidence and insight about compliance.

Inspection reports and compliance requirements

Once an inspection is conducted, our inspectors may:

• Issue compliance notices such as Directions to Fix (building) or rectification notices (plumbing), where required.
• Provide guidance to practitioners to support compliance and rectify issues through an inspection report.

The inspection report summarises observations, records non-compliances according to their risk, and sets out expected actions. This report informs the practitioners of the findings at the site, and the risk rating supports the Authorised Officer’s decisions about regulatory actions.

Actions can include requesting the builder, plumber or Relevant Building Surveyor to resolve the issue, issuing a direction or notice, cautioning the practitioner, or escalating the issue for disciplinary action.

Enforcement actions are enabled by sections 37B and 221ZW of the Building Act 1993.

Issues that are more likely to be unresolved may receive an escalated rating and regulatory response. For example, when the practitioner has a history of non-compliance or failure to cooperate to resolve the issue or the item would pose a risk to the consumer's health and safety or the integrity of the built environment