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BUILDING ACT 1993

Table of Provisions

PART 1--PRELIMINARY

  • 1 Purposes  
  • 2 Commencement  
  • 3 Definitions and interpretation  
  • 4 Objectives of Act  
  • 5 Application to Crown and public authorities  

PART 2--BUILDING STANDARDS

PART 3--BUILDING PERMITS

Division 1--Building permit required

Division 2--Applications for building permits

Division 3--Decisions on building permits and other matters

Division 3AA--Issue of building permit number by the Authority

Division 3A--Certificates of consent for owner‑builders

Division 4--Special provisions

Division 5--Register and records

PART 4--INSPECTION OF BUILDING WORK

Division 1--Inspections

  • 33 Notification during building work  
  • 34 Inspections at mandatory notification stages  
  • 35 Inspection of building work—general powers  
  • 35A Record of inspection of building work  
  • 35B Persons carrying out inspections must be registered practitioners or prescribed persons  

Division 2--Directions to fix building work

Division 3--Certificates of final inspection

PART 5--OCCUPATION OF BUILDINGS AND PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT

Division 1--Occupancy permits (building work)

Division 2--Occupancy permits (places of public entertainment)

  • 49 Public entertainment not to be conducted at place without occupancy permit  
  • 50 Place not to be used for public entertainment without occupancy permit  
  • 51 Use of place of public entertainment must be in accordance with permit  
  • 52 Use of prescribed temporary structure must be in accordance with permit  
  • 53 Applications for occupancy permits  
  • 54 Schedule 2 to apply  
  • 55 Refusal of occupancy permit  
  • 56 Decision on application for occupancy permit  
  • 57 Prescribed temporary structures—special provisions  
  • 58 Effect of occupancy permit  
  • 59 Form of occupancy permit  
  • 60 Reporting authority to be notified of occupancy permit  
  • 61 Owner to notify others of occupancy permit  
  • 62 Reasons for refusal to be given  
  • 63 Inspection of places of public entertainment  

Division 3--Temporary occupation of buildings

  • 64 Temporary occupation of buildings  
  • 65 Who may apply for approval?  
  • 66 Form of application  
  • 67 Determination of applications  
  • 68 Form of approval  
  • 69 Reasons for refusal to be given  

Division 4--Amendment and cancellation of permits and approvals

  • 70 Amendment of permit or approval  
  • 71 Cancellation of permit or approval if fraud or misrepresentation  
  • 72 Cancellation of occupancy permit on other grounds  

Division 5--Register and records

PART 6--PRIVATE BUILDING SURVEYORS

Division 1--Appointments of private building surveyors

Division 1A--Transfer of functions of private building surveyor

Division 2--Termination of appointment with consent of Authority

Division 3--Appointment by Authority of manager of business of private building surveyor

  • 83A Definition  
  • 83B Appointment of manager  
  • 83C Who may be appointed as a manager?  
  • 83D Terms of appointment  
  • 83E Conditions on appointment of manager  
  • 83F Notice of appointment  
  • 83G Effect of service of notice of appointment  
  • 83H Powers of manager  
  • 83I Powers of entry etc.  
  • 83J Acts of manager taken to be acts of private building surveyor  
  • 83K Protection from liability  
  • 83L Payment of expenses of management  
  • 83M Business accounts  
  • 83N Records and accounts of business under management  
  • 83O Reports by manager  
  • 83P Deceased estates  
  • 83Q Termination of manager's appointment  
  • 83R Review of decision to appoint manager  
  • 83S Directions of VCAT  
  • 83T Confidentiality  
  • 83U Offence to obstruct manager  
  • 83V Owner may recover money paid to private building surveyor  

PART 7--PROTECTION OF ADJOINING PROPERTY

  • 84 Notice of building work to be given  
  • 85 Adjoining owner must respond to notice  
  • 86 Effect of agreement  
  • 87 Effect of disagreement or request for further information  
  • 88 Work not to be carried out until protection requirements met  
  • 89 Emergency procedures  
  • 90 Absent or incapable owners  
  • 91 Appointment of agent for adjoining owner  
  • 92 Adjoining owner may inspect plans  
  • 93 Owner to arrange insurance cover  
  • 94 Survey of adjoining property  
  • 95 Entry on adjoining property  
  • 96 Adjoining owner and adjoining occupier not to obstruct owner  
  • 97 Expenses of adjoining owner  
  • 98 Compensation  
  • 99 Liability not affected  
  • 100 Saving for easements  
  • 101 Lodgment of plans after completion of protection work  

PART 8--ENFORCEMENT OF SAFETY AND BUILDING STANDARDS

Division 1--Emergency orders

  • 102 Emergency orders  
  • 103 Orders to vacate  
  • 104 Orders to owners, occupiers or builders  
  • 105 Form and service of emergency order  
  • 105A Duration of order  
  • 105B Cancellation of emergency order  

Division 2--Building notices and building orders

Division 3--General

PART 9--LIABILITY

Division 1--Immunity

Division 2--Limitation of actions

  • 129 Definitions  
  • 130 Division not to affect certain matters  
  • 134 Limitation on time when building action may be brought  
  • 134A Limitation on time when plumbing action may be brought  

Division 3--Insurance

Division 4--Cladding rectification subrogation

  • 137F Subrogation  
  • 137G Repayment of financial assistance  

PART 10--THE BUILDING APPEALS BOARD AND ITS JURISDICTION

Division 1--Rights of appeal

Division 2--Appeals

  • 145 Division additional to other powers  
  • 146 Effect of decisions under appeal  
  • 147 Fast track appeals  
  • 148 Nature of an appeal  
  • 149 What action can be taken on appeal?  

Division 3--Disputes

Division 4--Other proceedings

Division 5--Powers concerning disputes and other proceedings

  • 161 General powers  
  • 162 Special powers—modification of regulations  
  • 163 Agreements  
  • 164 Termination and variation of agreements  
  • 165 Lodging and recording of agreements  

Division 6--The Building Appeals Board

  • 166 Establishment and membership of Building Appeals Board  
  • 168 Register  

PART 11--REGISTRATION OF BUILDING PRACTITIONERS

Division 1--Offences

Division 1A--Registration

Division 2--Codes of conduct for building practitioners

Division 3--Disciplinary proceedings and action

  • 177E Application of Division to endorsed building engineers  
  • 178 Meaning of disciplinary action  
  • 178A Division applies to suspended practitioners  
  • 179 Grounds for disciplinary action  
  • 179A Conduct of body corporate or partnership to be conduct of building practitioner director or partner  
  • 179B Mandatory cancellation of registration if practitioner is not a fit and proper person  
  • 180 Grounds for immediate suspension  
  • 180A Immediate suspension of registration  
  • 180B Period of suspension  
  • 180C Period of grace where director dies or resigns or is removed or disqualified  
  • 181 Ability to practise  
  • 181A Revocation of suspension  
  • 182 Show cause notice  
  • 182A Representations about show cause notice  
  • 182B Decision about whether to take disciplinary action  
  • 182C Ending show cause process without further action  
  • 182D Disciplinary or other action by Authority on giving of undertaking  
  • 182E Taking disciplinary action after show cause notice  
  • 183 Notice of decisions  
  • 183A Building practitioner to give notice  
  • 183B Complaint privileged  
  • 183C Consequences of suspension of registration  
  • 183D Revocation of suspension  
  • 183E Authority may recover penalties  

Division 4--Review of decisions relating to building practitioners

PART 11A--LICENSING OF BUILDING EMPLOYEES

Division 1--Building employee licence

Division 2--Disciplinary proceedings and actions

Division 3--Review of decisions relating to licensed employees

PART 12--BUILDING ADMINISTRATION

Division 1--Role of Minister

Division 2--Victorian Building Authority

Division 3--State Building Surveyor

Division 3A--Building Monitor

Division 4--The Building Regulations Advisory Committee

  • 209 Establishment of Committee  
  • 210 Membership and procedure  
  • 211 Functions of Committee  

Division 4A--Plumbing Advisory Council

Division 5--Role of councils

Division 6--The Crown and public authorities

PART 12A--PLUMBING WORK

Division 1--Preliminary matters

  • 221A Purpose of this Part  
  • 221B Definitions applying to this Part  
  • 221C Meaning of plumbing work  

Division 2--Restrictions concerning the carrying out of plumbing work

  • 221D Plumbing work only to be carried out by licensed or registered plumbers  
  • 221E Restrictions concerning work for which compliance certificate required  
  • 221F Restriction concerning specialised plumbing work  
  • 221FA Plumbing work must comply with this Part and regulations  
  • 221G Obligations on licensed plumbers concerning their agents  
  • 221H People involved in a plumbing business need not be licensed or registered  
  • 221HA No entitlement to consideration under contract  
  • 221I Person must not use the title "plumber" or "plumbing practitioner" unless licensed or registered  
  • 221J Person must not use the title "drainer" unless licensed or registered  
  • 221K Person must not use the title "gasfitter" unless licensed or registered  
  • 221L Exceptions to sections 221I221K  

Division 3--The licensing and registration of plumbers

  • 221M Licensing as a plumber  
  • 221N Endorsement to carry out specialised plumbing work  
  • 221O Registration as a plumber  
  • 221OA Endorsement to carry out specialised plumbing work—registered plumbers  
  • 221P Provisional registration  
  • 221Q Restricted licences  
  • 221R Restricted registration  
  • 221S Authority may refuse to license or register certain persons  
  • 221T Application for licensing or registration as a plumber  
  • 221U Authority may conduct inquiries and require further information  
  • 221UA Consent to disclosure of information  
  • 221V Offence to give false information  
  • 221VA Police record check on applicant  
  • 221W Temporary licence or registration  
  • 221X Authority may impose conditions on licensing or registering person  
  • 221Y Duplicate licences and registration documents  
  • 221Z How long licensing and registration last  
  • 221ZA Plumbers must notify Authority of change of contact details  
  • 221ZB Application for renewal of licence or registration as a plumber  
  • 221ZC Authority may require further information  
  • 221ZD Renewal of licence or registration  
  • 221ZE Authority may permit late renewals  
  • 221ZF Information to be given to unsuccessful applicants  
  • 221ZFA Licence and registration document to be returned to Registrar  
  • 221ZFB Licensed plumber to produce licence for inspection  
  • 221ZFC Registered plumber to produce registration document for inspection  

Division 4--Compliance certificates

  • 221ZG This Division does not apply to complex gasfitting work  
  • 221ZH Compliance certificate must be given for most plumbing work  
  • 221ZI Details that must appear on a compliance certificate  
  • 221ZJ Details on certificates must be accurate  
  • 221ZK Only licensed plumbers may sign certificates  
  • 221ZKA Issue of certificates by the Authority  
  • 221ZL Meaning of the total value of plumbing work  
  • 221ZLA Building practitioner must transfer compliance certificate to owner  
  • 221ZLB Other people must also transfer compliance certificate to owner  
  • 221ZM Copies of certificates must be kept for 10 years  
  • 221ZN Provisions concerning the supply of certificate forms  
  • 221ZO Further obligation for compliance certificates for sanitary drains  

Division 5--Provisions applying to particular plumbing work

  • 221ZP Sanitary drainage and other work must be made available for inspection before being covered  
  • 221ZPA Information to be provided before work starts  

Division 6--Insurance orders

Division 7--Rectification of defective plumbing work

  • 221ZW Inspector or auditor may require plumber to rectify faulty work  
  • 221ZX Right to apply to VCAT to have a rectification notice cancelled  
  • 221ZY Plumbing notice to owner/occupier to rectify defective plumbing work  
  • 221ZZ Owner/occupier may dispute a plumbing notice  
  • 221ZZA Inspector may cancel plumbing notice  
  • 221ZZB Plumbing order to rectify defective plumbing work  
  • 221ZZC Owner/occupier must comply with plumbing order  
  • 221ZZD Inspector may cancel plumbing order  
  • 221ZZE Right to apply to the VCAT to have a plumbing order cancelled  
  • 221ZZF Emergency plumbing order to rectify dangerous plumbing work  
  • 221ZZG Offence to not comply with emergency plumbing order  
  • 221ZZH Inspector may cancel emergency plumbing order  
  • 221ZZI Plumbing notices and orders to be last resort  
  • 221ZZJ Owner/occupier must report the completion of required work  
  • 221ZZK Work may be carried out by Authority or plumbing inspector  
  • 221ZZL Police assistance  

Division 8--Interpretation and modification of plumbing regulations

Division 10--Enforcement

  • 221ZZY Enforcement staff  
  • 221ZZZC Additional powers of plumbing inspectors  
  • 221ZZZD Compulsory inspections  

Division 10A--Plumbing infringements

  • 221ZZZDA Definitions  
  • 221ZZZE Plumbing infringement notices  
  • 221ZZZEA Additional steps required by infringement notice  
  • 221ZZZEB Proceedings where plumbing infringement notice requiring additional steps is served  

Division 11--Inquiries and disciplinary action

  • 221ZZZF Inquiry by Authority  
  • 221ZZZFA Immediate suspension of registration or licence of plumber  
  • 221ZZZG Grounds on which disciplinary action may be taken  
  • 221ZZZH Procedure concerning inquiries  
  • 221ZZZI How inquiry to be conducted  
  • 221ZZZJ Disciplinary powers of Authority  
  • 221ZZZK Presumption of suspension for repeated offences concerning compliance notices  
  • 221ZZZKA Person to give notice of cancellation or suspension of licence or registration  
  • 221ZZZKB Consequences of suspension of licence or registration  
  • 221ZZZL Revocation of cancellation or suspension of licence or registration  
  • 221ZZZM Authority may compensate persons suffering loss from unsatisfactory plumbing work  
  • 221ZZZN Procedures of Authority sub-committee conducting inquiry or taking disciplinary action  

Division 12--Review of decisions

Division 13--Administrative matters

  • 221ZZZR Licensed and registered plumbers must give information to the Authority for the Register of Plumbers  
  • 221ZZZS Licensed and registered plumbers must notify Authority of changes to information on the Register of Plumbers  
  • 221ZZZT Register of Plumbers  
  • 221ZZZTA Publication of information on Register of Plumbers  
  • 221ZZZU Minister may specify work to be specialised plumbing work  
  • 221ZZZV Regulations  
  • 221ZZZW Incorporation by reference of Plumbing Code of Australia or other document by regulations  

PART 13--GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS

Division 1--Powers of Minister in relation to councils

  • 222 Order of Minister  
  • 223 Hearing of council  
  • 224 Effect of failure to comply with order  
  • 225 Powers of Minister and authorised persons  
  • 226 Minister may seek administrative order  
  • 227 Other powers not affected  

Division 1B--Inspections of safety and emergency equipment

Division 2--Information gathering and entry powers

  • 227EA Definition of municipal building surveyor for the purposes of this Division  
  • 227EB Warning about giving information that may incriminate a person  
  • 227F Meaning of authorised person in this Subdivision  
  • 227G Power to obtain information or documents  
  • 227H Documents or information may be provided by post  
  • 227I Meaning of authorised person in this Subdivision and interpretation  
  • 227J Authorised person may seek court order  
  • 227K Inspection of documents under court order  
  • 227L Notification of execution of court order  
  • 228 Authorised persons under this Subdivision  
  • 228A Authorisation of persons as authorised persons  
  • 228B Authorised person's identification  
  • 228C Production of identification  
  • 228D Power of entry—inspections required or authorised by this Act or regulations  
  • 228E Entry for monitoring and other purposes  
  • 228F Notice before entry and search under section 228E with consent  
  • 228G Acknowledgement of consent to entry and search under section 228E  
  • 228H Use or seizure of electronic equipment during search under section 228E  
  • 228I Entry of building or land open to the public  
  • 228J Entry in emergency  
  • 228K Entry with warrant for monitoring buildings or land used for residential purposes  
  • 228L Form and content of warrant  
  • 228M Entry with search warrant to find evidence of contravention  
  • 228N Form and content of search warrants  
  • 228O Seizure of things not mentioned in the warrant  
  • 228P Warrant may authorise the giving of a direction requiring assistance from person with knowledge of a computer or other electronic device  
  • 228Q Announcement before entry  
  • 228R Copy of warrant to be given to occupier  
  • 229 Powers of authorised person to require information when exercising power of entry  
  • 229A Receipt must be given for any thing seized  
  • 229B Certified copies of seized documents  
  • 229C Retention and return of seized documents or things  
  • 229D Magistrates' Court may extend 3 month period for retention of document or thing  
  • 229E Taking samples  
  • 229F Refusal or failure to comply with requirement  
  • 229G Protection against self-incrimination  
  • 229H Police to assist authorised persons  
  • 229I Impersonation of authorised person  
  • 229J Confidentiality  
  • 230 Register of exercise of powers of entry  
  • 231 Complaints to the Authority  
  • 232 Complaints to a council  
  • 233 Complaints to Energy Safe Victoria  
  • 234 Complaints relating to the chief officer  
  • 234A Investigation and report  

Division 2A--Remedies

  • 234B Undertakings  
  • 234C Copy of undertaking  
  • 234D Register of undertakings  
  • 234DA Interpretation  
  • 234E Injunctions  
  • 234F Consent injunctions  
  • 234G Interim injunctions  
  • 234H Variation and discharge of injunctions  
  • 234I Injunction may be granted during offence proceedings  
  • 234J Undertakings as to damages and costs  

Division 3--Evidence and notices

Division 4--Offences and penalties

  • 241 Proceedings for offences  
  • 241A Ineligibility for registration  
  • 242 Application of penalties  
  • 242A Offences by partners  
  • 243 Offences by bodies corporate  
  • 243A Conduct by officers, employees or agents of bodies corporate  
  • 244 Offence to hinder or obstruct  
  • 245 Offences by or relating to registered building practitioners  
  • 246 Offence to give false or misleading statements or documents  
  • 247 Offence relating to disclosure of pecuniary interest  
  • 248 Offence for agent to act without authority  
  • 250 Right of owner to carry out required work on occupied building or land  
  • 251 Occupier or registered mortgagee may carry out work  
  • 251A Owners corporation may carry out work  
  • 252 Vacation of building or land  
  • 253 Powers of court if requirement of authorised person not complied with  

Division 5--Building infringements

PART 14--GENERAL

  • 259A Improper use of information  
  • 259AB Information sharing arrangements  
  • 259B Authority may provide information to the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria  
  • 259BA Certificate evidence—decisions of Authority and predecessor bodies  
  • 259BB Certificate of Authority  
  • 259C Authority may disclose cooling tower information  
  • 260 Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  
  • 261 General regulation-making powers  
  • 262 Additional regulation-making powers  
  • 263 Transitional provisions  
  • 264 Transitional provisions relating to the Building (Plumbing) Act 1998  
  • 265 Transitional—Effect of change to Commission's name  
  • 267 Transitional—proportionate liability  
  • 269 Transitional—owner-builders  
  • 270 Transitional—building surveyors  
  • 271 Transitionals—Building Amendment Act 2012  
  • 272 Transitional and savings provisions—Building and Planning Legislation Amendment (Governance and Other Matters) Act 2013  
  • 272A Schedule 9—House Contracts Guarantee Repeal Act 2016  
  • 273 Transitional and savings provisions—Building Legislation Amendment (Consumer Protection) Act 2016  
  • 274 Transitional and savings provisions relating to the Building Amendment (Enforcement and Other Measures) Act 2017  
  • 275 General transitional and savings provisions—Building Amendment (Registration of Building Trades and Other Matters) Act 2018  
  • 276 Transitional regulations  
  • 277 Transitional and savings provisions—Building Amendment (Cladding Rectification) Act 2019  
  • 277A Transitional provision relating to the building permit levy  
  • 279 Transitional and saving provisions relating to the Building and Environment Protection Legislation Amendment Act 2020  
  • 280 Transitional and savings provisions relating to the Building and Environment Protection Legislation Amendment Act 2020  
  • 281 Transitional and savings provisions relating to the Building Amendment (Registration and Other Matters) Act 2021  
  • 282 Transitional and savings provisions relating to the Building Amendment (Registration and Other Matters) Act 2021  
  • 283 Transitional regulations  
  • 284 Transitional and saving provision relating to the Building Amendment (Registration and Other Matters) Act 2021  
  • 285 Transitional and saving provisions relating to the Building Legislation Amendment Act 2023  
  • 286 Transitional regulations  

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