You need an owner builder permit in NSW if you want to supervise or do residential building work worth more than $10,000 on your own property without a licensed builder. You apply through Service NSW, online or in person, and Building Commission NSW assesses your application. The permit fee is currently $233, and a complete application can take up to three business days to assess.
This guide walks through the process step by step, using the official Service NSW and NSW Government (Building Commission NSW) information. Rules and fees can change, so check those pages before you apply.
Step 1: Check whether you need a permit
You need a permit if the work has a reasonable market cost of more than $10,000 (labour and materials, including GST) and you are not contracting a licensed builder to supervise it. The work must also need development consent (a development application, or DA) or be complying development (a complying development certificate, or CDC). The NSW Government’s guide to when a permit is needed says you do not need one if the work does not need a DA or CDC, costs $10,000 or less, or you hire a licensed builder to do it.
A permit is only available for work on a single dwelling-house, a secondary dwelling (generally a granny flat) or a dual occupancy such as a duplex. Dual occupancy permits are only issued in special circumstances. You cannot get a permit for a unit inside a strata complex or for commercial premises.
Step 2: Check you are eligible
To apply, you must:
- be at least 18 and be the person who will hold the permit (you cannot apply on someone else’s behalf)
- be the owner or joint owner of the land, a shareholder in the company that owns it, or hold a registered lease of at least three years
- intend to live in the home (or one of the dwellings) after the work is finished
- hold a current white card
- have an approved DA or CDC
- have completed the owner builder education requirements, or an equivalent, if the work is $20,000 or more
Generally, only one owner builder permit can be issued in any five-year period, unless the new application and the earlier permit relate to the same land or special circumstances apply. If you have held a permit in the past five years, or the work is a dual occupancy, you will also need to complete the special circumstances form and apply in person at a Service NSW centre.
Step 3: Get your development approval
You need an approved DA from your local council, or a CDC from the council or an accredited certifier, before you can apply. When you apply, attach a copy of the approved consent (an application number is not enough) and the approved plans that go with it.
Step 4: Get your white card
A current general construction induction card, known as a white card, is mandatory for every owner builder permit application. You can apply through SafeWork NSW. If you have finished the training but your card has not arrived yet, Building Commission NSW also accepts a SafeWork NSW Statement of Training issued within 60 days before your application.
Step 5: Complete the owner builder education (if the work is $20,000 or more)
For work valued at $20,000 or more, you must complete five units of competency: CPCCWHS2001 (apply WHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry), CPCCOM2001 (read and interpret plans and specifications), CPCCCM1011 (undertake basic estimation and costing), CPCCOM1013 (plan and organise work) and CPCCOM1014 (conduct workplace communication). The NSW Government application page also lists equivalent accreditations that satisfy the requirement, such as holding certain NSW building licences or being an accredited building certifier.
Choose a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and check its status on the National Training Register before you enrol. Safe Rite is an RTO (code 45002) and delivers the NSW owner builder course online. If your work is between $10,000 and $20,000, you still need a permit, but the education requirement does not apply.
Step 6: Gather your documents
Have these ready before you start:
- proof of identity
- proof of ownership or a registered lease of at least three years, such as a council or water rates notice less than one year old, a Certificate of Title, a solicitor’s settlement letter (not future dated and less than three months old) or, for a company, an ASIC company extract
- the estimated cost of the work, covering labour and materials
- the proposed and approved plans, and a copy of your DA or CDC
- your white card (or Statement of Training) and your evidence of completed education
- the details and signatures of every owner, leaseholder and shareholder
- the special circumstances form, if it applies to you
To avoid processing delays, Service NSW advises making sure the details on your rates notice match the owner details on the title, and that you list every owner, leaseholder and shareholder with their approvals and signatures.
Step 7: Apply and pay the fee
To apply online, you need a MyServiceNSW account. You answer some eligibility questions, complete each section of the form, attach your documents, then submit and pay. The NSW Government says the online application takes about 20 minutes. To apply in person, book an appointment at a service centre and bring the relevant form (forms are listed here) along with your documents.
The owner builder permit fee is currently $233, according to the NSW Government fees page (last updated 1 September 2026). The education course is a separate cost. If you want to talk it through first, you can call Service NSW on 13 77 88, or Building Commission NSW on 13 27 00.
Be accurate: giving false or misleading information in an application is an offence, and the NSW Government says the penalty can be up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $22,000, or both.
Step 8: Wait for the outcome
Building Commission NSW assesses your application against set criteria: qualifications, experience, skills and knowledge (if required), and fitness and propriety. This can take up to three business days, and longer if more information is needed. If you apply in person and are successful, your permit can be issued while you wait. Otherwise, you will get an email with a copy of your permit, and your details are added to the public register. If your application is unsuccessful, you will be told the reasons in writing and can ask for a review of the decision.
After you get your permit
An owner builder permit is not a builder’s licence. You are just as responsible for the building work as a licensed builder would be, you can only do work covered by your DA or CDC, and you cannot do electrical, plumbing, gasfitting, air-conditioning or refrigeration work unless you hold the right licence. Use licensed tradespeople for those jobs.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an owner builder permit for work under $10,000?
No. A permit is not needed if the work costs $10,000 or less (including labour, materials and GST), if it does not need a DA or CDC, or if you contract a licensed builder to do it.
How much does an owner builder permit cost in NSW?
The permit fee is currently $233. The education course is paid separately to the training provider. Check the official fees page for the latest figure.
How long does it take to get an owner builder permit?
The NSW Government says assessment can take up to three business days, as long as you submit everything with your application. It takes longer if Building Commission NSW has to ask for more information.
Do I have to do a course to get an owner builder permit?
Only if the work is valued at $20,000 or more. Then you must complete the five required units of competency through an RTO, or hold an approved equivalent. Safe Rite’s online course is one option.
Can I get more than one owner builder permit?
Generally only one permit can be issued in any five-year period, unless the new application and the earlier permit relate to the same land or special circumstances apply.
Can I do all the work myself?
No. Specialist work such as electrical, plumbing, gasfitting, air-conditioning and refrigeration needs a licence, and you can only carry out work covered by your DA or CDC.