NTIn ForceAct
Building Act 1993
Div 6Commissioner and consumer guarantee
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Division 6 Commissioner and consumer guarantee
disputes
54F Commissioner of Residential Building Disputes ............................ 71
54FA Functions and powers of Commissioner ........................................ 71
54FB Technical inspection and report ..................................................... 72
54FC Application to Commissioner for decision ...................................... 73
54FD Consumer guarantee dispute procedures generally ...................... 73
54FE Concurrent consumer guarantee disputes and other
contractual disputes....................................................................... 74
54FF Regulations.................................................................................... 75
Division 1 Building permit required
55 Building permit required ................................................................. 76
56 Who may make application............................................................ 76
57 Schedule 3 to apply ....................................................................... 76
58 Further information may be requested by building certifier ............ 76
58A Building permits ............................................................................. 76
Building Act 1993 vii
59 General requirements for grant of building permit ......................... 77
60 Historic buildings ........................................................................... 78
60A Notification of change of building contractor .................................. 78
60B Amendment and cancellation of building permit ............................ 79
62 Notification during building work .................................................... 79
63 Inspections .................................................................................... 80
64 Directions as to work ..................................................................... 80
Part 8 Occupancy certification and exemption
certificates
65 Occupancy certification to be obtained .......................................... 81
66 Buildings etc. not to be used for public assembly without
occupancy permit .......................................................................... 81
67 Application ..................................................................................... 82
69 Builder's declaration to accompany application ............................. 82
70 Granting occupancy permit ............................................................ 83
72 Effect of occupancy permits........................................................... 83
72A Application ..................................................................................... 83
72B Granting certificate of substantial compliance ............................... 84
72C Effect of certificate of substantial compliance ................................ 85
72D Application ..................................................................................... 85
72E Building certifier's recommendation to Director ............................. 86
72F Granting certificate of existence .................................................... 87
72G Effect of certificate of existence ..................................................... 87
Division 3A Exemption certificates and validation of
exemptions
73A Exemption certificate and prescribed certification.......................... 88
Building Act 1993 viii
73B Schedule 4 applies ........................................................................ 88
73C Entitlement to apply for exemption certificate ................................ 88
73D Validation of exemptions and occupancy permits .......................... 89
74 Temporary occupation of buildings ................................................ 89
76 Conditions...................................................................................... 89
Division 5 General matters
76A Further information may be required ............................................. 90
76B Application of and information in occupancy certification .............. 90
76C Application of Schedule 3 .............................................................. 90
76D Liability for offences prior to grant of occupancy certification ........ 90
77 Protection work to be carried out ................................................... 90
78 Notice of building work to be given ................................................ 91
79 Owner of adjoining property to respond to notice .......................... 91
80 Effect of agreement ....................................................................... 91
81 Effect of disagreement ................................................................... 91
82 Appeals.......................................................................................... 92
83 Decisions of Appeals Board on appeals ........................................ 92
84 Work not to be carried out until protection requirements met ........ 92
85 Emergency procedures ................................................................. 92
86 Emergency protection works ......................................................... 93
87 Absent or incapable owners .......................................................... 93
88 Appointment of agents for owners ................................................. 93
89 Liability not affected ....................................................................... 94
90 Inspection of plans......................................................................... 94
91 Building owner to arrange insurance cover ................................... 94
92 Record of condition of adjoining property ...................................... 95
93 Work to conform to Regulations etc. .............................................. 95
94 Entry on adjoining property to carry out protection works .............. 95
95 Offences by adjoining owner ......................................................... 96
96 Service of plans after completion of work ...................................... 96
97 Saving for easements .................................................................... 96
98 Expenses of adjoining owner ......................................................... 96
99 Compensation ............................................................................... 97
Part 10 Enforcement of safety and building
standards
100 Emergency orders ......................................................................... 97
101 Work may be carried out by Director ............................................. 98
Building Act 1993 ix
102 Police assistance ........................................................................... 98
103 Completion of work ........................................................................ 98
104 Appeals.......................................................................................... 99
105 Duration of order............................................................................ 99
106 Contravention of emergency order ................................................ 99
107 Fire hazards ................................................................................... 99
108 Building notices ........................................................................... 100
109 Building notices by building certifiers ........................................... 100
110 Content of notice ......................................................................... 100
111 Representations by owner ........................................................... 101
112 Building orders............................................................................. 101
113 Contents of building orders .......................................................... 101
114 Building orders to stop building work ........................................... 101
115 Director to be notified .................................................................. 102
116 Fire upgrading reports ................................................................. 102
117 Assistance of Fire Service ........................................................... 102
118 Representations by owner ........................................................... 102
119 Building orders relating to fire hazards ........................................ 102
120 Failure to comply with order of building certifier........................... 103
121 Work may be carried out by Director ........................................... 103
122 Police assistance ......................................................................... 103
123 Completion of work ...................................................................... 103
124 Appeals........................................................................................ 104
125 Amendment or cancellation of certain building orders ................. 104
126 Onus of proof on appeals ............................................................ 104
127 Duration of order.......................................................................... 105
128 Contravention of building order.................................................... 105
129 Register of orders ........................................................................ 105
Part 10A Appeals Board and disability access
decisions
129A Definitions .................................................................................... 105
129B Disability access provisions ......................................................... 105
129C Application of Part 11 .................................................................. 106
Division 2 Alternative solution decisions and access
modification decisions
129D Application for alternative solution decision ................................. 106
129E Alternative solution decision ........................................................ 107
129F Application for access modification decision................................ 107
129G Access modification decision ....................................................... 107
Building Act 1993 x
129H Circumstances to be taken into account for access
modification decision ................................................................... 108
129J Notice and registration of disability access decision .................... 110
129K Effect of disability access decision .............................................. 111
Part 11 Appeals and applications to Appeals
Board generally
130 Who may appeal.......................................................................... 111
130A How appeal is commenced.......................................................... 112
131 Modification of application of Building Regulations ...................... 112
132 Sittings of Appeals Board ............................................................ 112
133 Constitution of Appeals Board in a matter ................................... 112
134 Authentication of documents ....................................................... 113
Division 2 Procedures for appeals, referrals and
applications
135 Procedure generally .................................................................... 113
136 Fresh hearing .............................................................................. 114
137 Decisions of Appeals Board......................................................... 114
138 Decision of Appeals Board to be final .......................................... 114
139 Form of appeals and applications ................................................ 114
140 Decisions – form .......................................................................... 114
141 Evidence of determinations ......................................................... 115
142 Enforcement of determinations .................................................... 115
143 Adjournments .............................................................................. 115
144 Hearings to be open .................................................................... 115
145 Rights of representation .............................................................. 115
146 Attendance of witnesses .............................................................. 115
147 Witnesses to answer questions ................................................... 115
148 Evidence on oath ......................................................................... 116
149 Costs ........................................................................................... 116
150 Prosecution of offences ............................................................... 116
151 Offences by corporations ............................................................. 116
152 Additional orders that may be made by the Court........................ 117
153 Protection from liability ................................................................ 118
159 Application of limitation on taking action ...................................... 119
Building Act 1993 xi
160 Limitation on time when action may be taken .............................. 119
161 Effect of other legislation ............................................................. 119
162 Access to buildings and land ....................................................... 119
163 Access to residential premises .................................................... 120
164 Additional powers of authorised officer ........................................ 120
165 Access where safety of public at risk ........................................... 120
166 Offences ...................................................................................... 120
166AA Acquisition on just terms .............................................................. 121
166A Certified copies of documents ..................................................... 121
167 Evidentiary provisions .................................................................. 121
167AA Service of documents .................................................................. 122
167A Approved forms ........................................................................... 122
167B Guidelines.................................................................................... 122
168 Regulations.................................................................................. 122
Part 15 Repeals and transitional matters for
Building Act 1993
169 Repeal ......................................................................................... 123
170 Matters in process before commencement of this Act ................. 124
171 Repeal of Regulations and savings ............................................. 124
172 Transitional Regulations .............................................................. 124
Part 15A Building areas before 16 September 2004
172A Retrospective application of declaration ...................................... 125
172B Validation of things done or omitted before 16 September
2004 ............................................................................................ 125
Part 15C Transitional matters for Part 2 of Building
Amendment Act 2005
172H Regulations may contain savings or transitional provisions ......... 125
Part 16 Transitional matters for Building
Amendment Act 2004
173 Renewal of registration granted before commencement of
Building Amendment Act 2004 .................................................... 126
174 Determinations under section 14 of Building Act 1993 to
continue in force .......................................................................... 127
175 Commencement of Part 4A of Building Act 1993......................... 127
176 Commencement of Part 4B of Building Act 1993......................... 127
179 Transitional Regulations .............................................................. 128
Building Act 1993 xii
Part 17 Transitional matters for Building
Legislation Amendment Act 2010
180 Definitions .................................................................................... 128
181 Application for exemption certificate ............................................ 129
182 Declaration made by corporation after commencement day for
building work completed before commencement day .................. 129
183 Declaration made by owner-builder after commencement day
for building work completed before commencement day............. 129
Part 18 Transitional matters for Building
Amendment (Registration and Other
Matters) Act 2012
184 Definition...................................................................................... 131
185 Application of Part ....................................................................... 131
186 Replacement provisions apply to existing registration
applications.................................................................................. 131
187 Requirement to continue to hold determined net financial
assets .......................................................................................... 132
188 Compliance with supervision requirement ................................... 132
189 Continuation of delegations ......................................................... 132
Part 19 Transitional matters for Building
Amendment (Residential Building
Consumer Protection) Act 2012
190 Definitions .................................................................................... 132
191 Continuation of building permit and approved insurance policy
for relevant building work ............................................................. 133
192 Relevant building work under residential building contract .......... 133
193 Relevant building work for which residential building contract
not required ................................................................................. 134
Part 20 Transitional matters for Building
Amendment (Occupancy Certification)
Act 2016
194 Definitions .................................................................................... 134
195 Applications for certificate of occupancy under repealed Act....... 135
196 Relevant applications – building certifiers .................................... 136
197 Application in relation to building work approved or
commenced before commencement ........................................... 137
198 Period of cover under approved insurance policy ........................ 137
Building Act 1993 xiii
Part 21 Transitional matters for Building
Amendment Act 2022
200 Definitions .................................................................................... 139
201 Application of increased inquiry period to building practitioners
whose registration ceased before commencement ..................... 139
202 Application of increased amount of civil penalty to professional
misconduct engaged in before commencement .......................... 139
203 Application of increased amount of civil penalty to
contraventions of Commissioner's decision before
commencement ........................................................................... 139
Part 22 Transitional matters for Building
Legislation Amendment Act 2024
204 Definitions .................................................................................... 140
205 NTCAT review limited to decisions made after commencement.. 140
206 Appeals not commenced before commencement........................ 140
207 Appeals not determined before commencement ......................... 141
208 Commercial building work commenced before commencement.. 141
Part 23 Transitional matters for Lands, Planning
and Environment Legislation Amendment
Act 2025
209 Application of amendment to section 24D ................................... 142
Part 24 Transitional matter for Building Legislation
Amendment (Fidelity Fund) Act 2025
210 Continuation of trustees of approved scheme ............................. 142
Schedule 2 Members and procedures of Advisory
Committee, Practitioners Board and
Schedule 3 Building permits and occupancy
certification
Building Act 1993 xiv
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As in force at 10 February 2026
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BUILDING ACT 1993
An Act to provide for the establishing of technical standards for
buildings, the registration of building practitioners and certifiers, the
regulation of building matters, the granting of building permits and
occupancy certification and the establishing of a building appeal
process, and for related purposes