The clock will only start when the application is complete when submitted and payment is received.
- Certified application: 10 business days (excluding public holidays).
- Uncertified application: 25 business days (excluding public holidays).
There are two types of building permits:
- BA1 – Application for building permit – certified: Requires a Certificate of Design Compliance (BA3 Form) to be completed by a Private Building Surveyor prior to being submitted to the Shire
- BA2 – Application for building permit – uncertified: Certified by the Shire.
The fees differ for certified and uncertified applications. Refer to Building schedule of fees and charges.
All fees must be paid in full at the time of submitting an application. Payments can be made by completing the Credit Card Authorisation form with your application, over the phone via credit card details or in person at either Shire of Harvey Administration Offices.
The minimum building permit fees for estimated value of works under $20,000 is $171.65. For current fees for estimated value of works over $20,000 please refer to the Building schedule of fees and charges.
The Building and Construction Industry Training Fund levy is also payable where the total value of construction is estimated to be more than $20,000. (See below)
Note: this payment is only required for construction estimated to be over $20,000.
The Building and Construction Industry Training Fund Levy applies to all residential, commercial and civil engineering projects undertaken in Western Australia, where the total value of construction is estimated to be more than $20,000.
You can pay the BCTIF levy online. Note, a copy of the receipt will need to be provided to the Shire with your application. Alternatively, you can pay for the levy in person at the Shire when you lodge your application.
A letter will be sent to the applicant, builder and/or owner requesting further information. The applicant has 21 calendar days to provide the requested information. Under the Building Act 2011, the shire has the right to refuse an application if all the required information has not been submitted within the 21-day timeframe.
The clock will stop from the date the letter is sent for additional information and will restart the day the information required has been received.
Please refer to page 90 to 101 of Schedule 4 Cl.1 – Building Work in the Building Regulations 2012, for works that do not require a building permit.
Building work usually requires a building permit. If a building or structure has been built, altered, or extended without a required permit, it is considered unauthorised building work.
Under the Building Act 2011 (WA), starting building work without a permit is an offence unless the work is exempt.
Need Retrospective Approval?
If building work has been completed without approval, you may be able to apply for retrospective approval.
Step 1:
Engage a registered private Building Surveyor to assess the building or structure and issue a Certificate of Building Compliance (BA18).
Step 2:
Once the certificate is issued, apply for retrospective approval with the Shire of Harvey for a Building Approval Certificate (BA13).
Contact the Shire’s Building Services team for application details, fees, and submission requirements.
Important Notes
- Additional approvals may be required, including planning or health approvals
- Easements or impacts on neighbouring properties may affect approval
- Not all unauthorised building work can be approved retrospectively
More information is available on the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety website: Section 9: Unauthorised building work page
What Happens if Your Application Is Refused
Our aim is to help you achieve compliance and will always try to work with you to identify what you can do to make your building/structure compliant.
If this is not possible, you may be asked to remove the building/structure. If you refuse, we may take further action which could include fines, issue of a Building Order or legal proceedings.
Need Advice?
The information on this page is a general guide only.
If you need advice about retrospective approvals, please contact the Shire. A building officer is available during business hours to assist by phone, email, or in person.
The Residential Design Codes stipulate the primary, rear and side setbacks for residential zoned landholdings, unless varied by District Planning Scheme No. 1.
- Residential: Policy No 3.1 – Residential Design Codes defines the rule and regulations for setback boundaries.
- Special Residential/Special Rural: Allocated Building Envelope. Please contact us for information.
- General Farming/Intensive Farming: Generally 20 metres from all boundaries – Please contact us for more information.
To seek variation to the setbacks for your property, you can apply for an R-Codes Variation. Refer to Building applications and forms.
To build outside the approved building envelope, the proposed development will require planning approval in most instances.
To seek an amendment to your building envelope, please contact us.
Please refer to Sheds, patios and carports.
If a property owner intends to undertake building works over the value of $20,000, they must apply for Owner-Builders Approval. An owner builder certificate is required to be obtained from the Building Commission directly.
The Owner-Builder Approval must be submitted with the Building Permit application or must engage a registered builder to complete the works.
Note, Class 10 B structures don’t require a registered builder. Exemptions can apply for Rural locations.
The residential zoning is applied to most of the Shire’s urban settlements with a number of potential land uses (activities) possible.
It must be noted that density coding for residential areas is a different matter to zoning, which indicates a maximum permissible number of dwellings for development on a property or area. This is often displayed as R10, R20 R40 etc., and relates to development of dwellings per hectare.
The most common density coding for residential zoned areas within the Shire is “R15/30/50”. These codes provide various development options available to residential properties. However, this is dependent on a number of factors and dictates whether development at higher densities can occur.
For more information, please refer to the information sheet below.
Related documents
Find out about the different Building Classes.
For more information about building, please contact us.
See also:
