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What is an Owner-builder?

An owner-builder is someone who takes responsibility for domestic building work carried out on their own land. If you become an owner-builder, you will require our prior consent and be responsible for:

  • ensuring a building permit is obtained and paying the building permit levy
  • supervising or undertaking the building work
  • ensuring the work meets building regulations and standards
  • notifying us if the estimated cost of works has increased by the end of the project and paying any additional building permit levy required
  • applying for a Notice of Cover and paying the required premium to cover the work under Home Warranty if you wish to sell the property within 6 years from completion of the work
  • fixing defects or non-compliances associated with the work for 10 years from completion of the work for a subsequent owner of the property.

If the value of the domestic building work you'll be doing is over $20,000, you'll need to have a certificate of consent from us to be an owner-builder. The value of the building work includes labour costs and materials. It's the estimated cost if you were to engage a registered builder to do the work. Your building surveyor or architect can help with calculating the cost of the work.

Failure to obtain a certificate of consent prior to undertaking any work may result in the owner builder not being eligible to apply for a Notice of Cover.

To become an owner-builder in Victoria, you'll need to meet several eligibility criteria. For instance, unless you are building a small second dwelling, an owner-builder can only build or renovate one house every five years and must intend to live in the house once it is completed.

Provisions for small second dwellings, pools and spas

If you are planning on being the owner-builder for a swimming pool or spa, or installing safety barriers, see the regulations and requirements on our Swimming pools and spas pages.

If you are planning on being the owner-builder for a small second dwelling, see the regulations and requirements on our small second dwelling page.

Last updated 30 June 2026
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