Unauthorised Building Works

What is Unauthorised Work?

Unauthorised building work may include any building or structure that has been constructed, structurally altered, extended or commenced without a Building Permit, or which is not built in compliance with the approved plans and specifications. 

It is an offence under section 9 of the Building Act 2011 to undertake building work without first obtaining a Building Permit, unless the building work is exempted from such a requirement under the Building Regulations 2012.

If you have undertaken building work without prior approval, or purchased a property with unauthorised building work, you may be able to apply for retrospective approval if the building or structure complies with the applicable building standards.  

In some cases, you may also need to apply for retrospective Planning Approval with the Town's planning department. 

Retrospective Building Approval

To apply for a BA14 Building Approval Certificate, an applicant will need to complete a BA13 Application for Building Approval Certificate, provide a BA18 Certificate of Building Compliance and any relevant supporting documents. 

A certificate of building compliance is issued by a registered building surveyor as defined in section 3 of the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011. This certificate can be obtained from an independent building surveyor who certify that an existing building complies with the relevant building standards. 

Information required

BA13 Application for Building Approval Certificate

Unauthorised Works Checklist 

Fee Calculators

Submit application

By email to admin@eastfremantle.wa.gov.au. Application form and supporting attachments should be in PDF format.

In person at the Town Hall, 135 Canning Highway, East Fremantle between Monday to Friday, 8.30am and 4.30pm. 

Privacy Statement 

The Town is collecting your personal information for the purpose of responding to your request. 

Some of the information may be provided to the Town's contractors for the purpose of addressing your request. Your information will not be provided to any other person or agency unless you have given us permission, or where legally obligated to do so. 

If you would like to know more about how the Town handles your personal information, please see the Town's Privacy Statement and Collection Notice.