If you’ve ever heard the term “construction certificate”, it’s important to know that in Western Australia it usually isn’t a formal term used in the approvals process. In WA, the approval you typically need before building work starts is a building permit, and depending on the application pathway, that permit may need to be supported by a Certificate of Design Compliance (BA3) signed by a registered building surveyor.
So, when people mention a construction certificate, they are typically referring to key documents that allow construction to proceed, such as a building permit or a Certificate of Design Compliance.
The approval process matters because building work cannot start until the right permit is in place. The City of Perth states that a building permit is generally required before building work is carried out, including many construction, renovation, alteration, and improvement projects. Other WA local governments say the same thing under the Building Act 2011 (WA).
You can read more about building permits and approvals in Perth here.
If you are planning a new home, or a commercial project in Perth, you should not assume that the construction certificate is the document they ask for. Instead ask: Do I need a building permit, and will this application need a BA3 Certificate of Design Compliance?
The main approvals you will come across in WA
For most Perth projects, the most relevant documents are:
- Building Permit: the approval that allows the work to start.
- Certificate of Design Compliance (BA3): confirms that the proposed design complies with the applicable building standards and is required for a certified building permit application (BA1).
- Certificate of Construction Compliance (BA17): confirms the building has been constructed in accordance with the permit and is suitable for the proposed use, typically used later in the process for certain approvals.
- Occupancy Permit: required before certain buildings can be occupied, particularly for commercial and other non-Class 1/10 situations.
Certified vs uncertified building permit applications
In Perth, a building permit application can usually be lodged as either certified (BA1) or uncertified (BA2), depending on the project type. The City of Perth explains that commercial buildings (Class 2–9) must use the certified pathway, while residential dwellings and incidental structures may use certified or uncertified pathways depending on the circumstances.
With a certified application, you engage a registered building surveyor to provide the BA3 Certificate of Design Compliance before lodging the building permit application.
With an uncertified application, the permit authority handles the technical assessment as part of the permit process, but this pathway is generally limited to residential work.
Who usually handles it: the client or the builder?
In many Perth projects, the builder, designer, or architect may submit the building permit application, depending on how the job is structured. In practice, many clients rely on their builder to coordinate the application.
This is especially important because approvals are not just about the permit itself. On some projects, there may also be planning approvals, management plans, engineering certificates, etc.
Useful resources
- WA Government: Building approvals: overview of the building approvals framework in Western Australia. Building approvals
- WA Government: Owner-builder approval: useful if an owner is considering managing the build themselves. Owner-builder approval
Conclusion
In Perth, the term “construction certificate” is not usually the formal document name you need to focus on. In most cases, the key approval document is the building permit, often supported by a Certificate of Design Compliance. Understanding that distinction helps you ask the right questions early and avoid confusion once the project is ready to move from design into construction.
If you’re planning a residential or commercial project, IQ Construction can help you understand which approvals are likely to apply, what happens at each stage of the project, and how the permit process fits into the overall build timeline.
Get in touch with us today here (08) 9399 6715.