4Interpretation

### 4 Interpretation > > (1)  In this Act –[*\[Section 4 Subsection (1) amended by No. 18 of 2021, s. 52, Applied:05 Nov 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-11-05/act-2021-018#GS52@EN) > > > > > [*\[Section 4 Subsection (1) amended by No. 18 of 2021, s. 52, Applied:05 Nov 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-11-05/act-2021-018#GS52@EN) ***appeal tribunal*** means the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal; > > > > > ***approved*** means approved by the Director of Building Control; > > > > > ***as-constructed plans*** means plans, in a form and containing such details as determined by the Director of Building Control, that specify how work has been constructed under this Act; > > > > > ***authorised person*** includes – > > > > > > > > (a) the Director of Building Control; and > > > > > > > > > (b) a building surveyor; and > > > > > > > > > (c) a permit authority; and > > > > > > > > > (d) [*\[Section 4 Subsection (1) amended by No. 9 of 2023, s. 4, Applied:01 Oct 2024\]*](/view/html/inforce/2024-10-01/act-2023-009#GS4@Hpa@EN) > > > > > > > > > (e) any other prescribed person; > > > > > ***builder***, in relation to building work or demolition work, means – > > > > > > > > (a) a person engaged, to manage or carry out building work or demolition work, by the owner of premises where the work is to be performed; and > > > > > > > > > (b) if such a person does not exist, the owner of such premises; > > > > > ***building*** includes – > > > > > > > > (a) a building or a proposed building; and > > > > > > > > > (b) a part of a building or proposed building; and > > > > > > > > > (c) a structure or a proposed structure; and > > > > > > > > > (d) a part of a structure or proposed structure; > > > > > ***building administration fee*** means the fee payable in respect of work under [Division 1](#HP21@HD1@EN) of [Part 21](#HP21@EN) ; > > > > > ***building notice*** means a building notice issued under [section 237](#GS237@EN) ; > > > > > ***building order*** means a building order served under [section 246](#GS246@EN) , [247](#GS247@EN) , [248](#GS248@EN) or [249](#GS249@EN) ; > > > > > ***building permit*** means a building permit issued under [section 143](#GS143@EN) ; > > > > > ***Building Regulations*** means regulations made under this Act that relate to building work or demolition work; > > > > > ***building services provider*** has the same meaning as in the [Occupational Licensing Act 2005](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2005-047) ; > > > > > ***building services work*** has the same meaning as in the [Occupational Licensing Act 2005](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2005-047) ; > > > > > ***building surveyor*** – see [section 28](#GS28@EN) ; > > > > > ***building work*** means work consisting of, or relating to – > > > > > > > > (a) erecting, re-erecting, constructing, altering, repairing, underpinning, demolishing or removing a building; or > > > > > > > > > (b) adding to a building; or > > > > > > > > > (c) excavating, or filling, that is incidental to an activity referred to in paragraph (a) or (b); or > > > > > > > > > (d) any other prescribed work; > > > > > ***business day*** means a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday, a statutory holiday as defined in the [Statutory Holidays Act 2000](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2000-096) or a public holiday throughout the State; > > > > > ***certificate of completion*** includes – > > > > > > > > (a) a certificate of completion (notifiable building work); and > > > > > > > > > (b) a certificate of completion (notifiable plumbing work); and > > > > > > > > > (c) a certificate of completion (notifiable demolition work); and > > > > > > > > > (d) a certificate of completion (permit building work); and > > > > > > > > > (e) a certificate of completion (permit plumbing work); and > > > > > > > > > (f) a certificate of completion (permit demolition work); > > > > > ***certificate of completion (notifiable building work)*** means a certificate of completion (notifiable building work) issued under [section 104](#GS104@EN) ; > > > > > ***certificate of completion (notifiable demolition work)*** means a certificate of completion (notifiable demolition work) issued under [section 127](#GS127@EN) ; > > > > > ***certificate of completion (notifiable plumbing work)*** means a certificate of completion (notifiable plumbing work) issued under [section 115](#GS115@EN) ; > > > > > ***certificate of completion (permit building work)*** means a certificate of completion (permit building work) issued under [section 153](#GS153@EN) ; > > > > > ***certificate of completion (permit demolition work)*** means a certificate of completion (permit demolition work) issued under [section 203](#GS203@EN) ; > > > > > ***certificate of completion (permit plumbing work)*** means a certificate of completion (permit plumbing work) issued under [section 178](#GS178@EN) ; > > > > > ***certificate of final inspection (building)*** means a certificate of final inspection (building) issued under [section 152](#GS152@EN) ; > > > > > ***certificate of final inspection (demolition)*** means a certificate of final inspection (demolition) issued under [section 202](#GS202@EN) ; > > > > > ***certificate of likely compliance*** includes – > > > > > > > > (a) a certificate of likely compliance (notifiable building work); and > > > > > > > > > (b) a certificate of likely compliance (notifiable plumbing work); and > > > > > > > > > (c) a certificate of likely compliance (notifiable demolition work); and > > > > > > > > > (d) a certificate of likely compliance (permit building work); and > > > > > > > > > (e) a certificate of likely compliance (permit plumbing work); and > > > > > > > > > (f) a certificate of likely compliance (permit demolition work); > > > > > ***certificate of likely compliance (notifiable building work)*** means a certificate of likely compliance (notifiable building work) issued under [section 98](#GS98@EN) ; > > > > > ***certificate of likely compliance (notifiable demolition work)*** means a certificate of likely compliance (notifiable demolition work) issued under [section 121](#GS121@EN) ; > > > > > ***certificate of likely compliance (notifiable plumbing work)*** means a certificate of likely compliance (notifiable plumbing work) issued under [section 109](#GS109@EN) ; > > > > > ***certificate of likely compliance (permit building work)*** means a certificate of likely compliance (permit building work) issued under [section 134](#GS134@EN) ; > > > > > ***certificate of likely compliance (permit demolition work)*** means a certificate of likely compliance (permit demolition work) issued under [section 185](#GS185@EN) ; > > > > > ***certificate of likely compliance (permit plumbing work)*** means a certificate of likely compliance (permit plumbing work) issued under [section 160](#GS160@EN) ; > > > > > ***certificate of substantial compliance*** means a certificate of substantial compliance provided under [section 257](#GS257@EN) ; > > > > > ***classification*** means classification under the National Construction Code; > > > > > ***defective work*** – see [section 207](#GS207@EN) ; > > > > > ***demolition order*** means a demolition order under [section 267](#GS267@EN) ; > > > > > ***demolition permit*** means a demolition permit issued under [section 193](#GS193@EN) ; > > > > > ***demolition work*** is building work that – > > > > > > > > (a) completely, or partially, demolishes a building or structure by pre-planned and controlled methods or procedures; and > > > > > > > > > (b) does not include the building of any new building or structure, or associated building works; > > > > > ***designer*** means the person performing design work under this Act; > > > > > ***dilapidated building*** means a building that, because of neglect, disrepair, defacement or damage, is of an appearance that is unsightly, particularly in comparison with its surroundings; > > > > > ***Director of Building Control*** means the person appointed under [section 15(1)](#GS15@Gs1@EN) as the Director of Building Control; > > > > > ***emergency order*** means an emergency order made under [section 245](#GS245@EN) ; > > > > > ***emergency work*** – see [section 214](#GS214@EN) ; > > > > > ***environmental health officer*** has the same meaning as in the [Public Health Act 1997](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1997-086) ; > > > > > ***essential building services*** means the features of a building, or the measures in or associated with a building, that are prescribed for the purposes of this definition; > > > > > ***farm building*** has the same meaning as in the National Construction Code; > > > > > ***fire source feature*** has the same meaning as in the National Construction Code; > > > > > ***function control authority*** means an authority that is prescribed for the purposes of this definition; > > > > > ***Fund*** means the Building Administration Fund continued in force under [section 329](#GS329@EN) ; > > > > [*\[Section 4 Subsection (1) amended by No. 9 of 2023, s. 4, Applied:01 Oct 2024\]*](/view/html/inforce/2024-10-01/act-2023-009#GS4@Hpb@EN) > > > > > ***hazardous area*** includes land that has the following attributes or risks: > > > > > > > > (a) land that is prone to bushfire, landslip or flooding; > > > > > > > > > (b) land that is subject to slope instability; > > > > > > > > > (c) land that is subject to erosion or coastal inundation; > > > > > > > > > (d) land that is subject to sea level rises or storm surges; > > > > > > > > > (e) land that is contaminated, filthy or undrainable; > > > > > > > > > (f) land that has any prescribed attributes or is prone to any prescribed risks; > > > > > ***historic building*** means a building entered in the Heritage Register under the [Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-117) ; > > > > > ***licensed builder***, in relation to building work, means – > > > > > > > > (a) the holder of a building services licence under the [Occupational Licensing Act 2005](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2005-047) that authorises the holder of the licence to perform the building work; or > > > > > > > > > (b) an owner builder who holds an owner builder permit under that Act that authorises the owner builder to perform the building work; > > > > > ***licensed plumber***, in relation to plumbing work, means the holder of a licence under the [Occupational Licensing Act 2005](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2005-047) that authorises the holder of the licence to perform the plumbing work; > > > > > ***low-risk building work*** – see [section 91(1)(a)](#GS91@Gs1@Hpa@EN) ; > > > > > ***low-risk demolition work*** – see [section 91(1)(c)](#GS91@Gs1@Hpc@EN) ; > > > > > ***low-risk plumbing work*** – see [section 91(1)(b)](#GS91@Gs1@Hpb@EN) ; > > > > > ***low-risk work*** includes low-risk building work, low-risk plumbing work and low-risk demolition work; > > > > > ***National Construction Code*** means the National Construction Code series published by the Australian Building Codes Board, as amended or substituted from time to time; > > > > > ***notice of work*** means – > > > > > > > > (a) in the case of notifiable building work, a notice of work under [section 97](#GS97@EN) ; and > > > > > > > > > (b) in the case of notifiable plumbing work, a notice of work under [section 108](#GS108@EN) ; and > > > > > > > > > (c) in the case of notifiable demolition work, a notice of work under [section 120](#GS120@EN) ; > > > > > ***notifiable building work*** – see [section 93](#GS93@EN) ; > > > > > ***notifiable demolition work*** – see [section 116](#GS116@EN) ; > > > > > ***notifiable plumbing work*** – see [section 105](#GS105@EN) ; > > > > > ***notifiable work*** includes notifiable building work, notifiable plumbing work and notifiable demolition work; > > > > > ***occupancy permit*** means an occupancy permit issued under [section 223](#GS223@EN) ; > > > > > ***owner***, in relation to premises, includes the following persons: > > > > > > > > (a) every person who jointly or severally, whether at law or in equity, is entitled to the premises for any estate in freehold in possession; > > > > > > > > > (b) a person who has contracted to buy the premises; > > > > > > > > > (c) in the case of premises that are subject to a mortgage, the person for the time being holding the equity of redemption in that mortgage; > > > > > > > > > (d) in the case of premises held under a tenancy for life, the person who is the life tenant; > > > > > > > > > (e) in the case of premises held under a lease for a term of not less than 99 years or for a term of not less than such other prescribed period, the person who is the lessee of the premises; > > > > > > > > > (f) if the premises are Crown land, the Minister, authority or other person responsible for the management of the land; > > > > > > > > > (fa) [*\[Section 4 Subsection (1) amended by No. 39 of 2018, s. 4, Applied:01 Jan 2017\]*](/view/html/inforce/2017-01-01/act-2018-039#GS4@EN) in the case of premises where defective work is found, an occupier of the premises who has contractually authorised the performance of the building work in those premises – > > > > > > > > > > > > (i) that was the defective work; or > > > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) that resulted in the discovery of the defective work; > > > > > > > > > (g) any other person holding a prescribed interest in the premises; > > > > > ***owner builder*** means the holder of an owner builder permit under the [Occupational Licensing Act 2005](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2005-047) ; > > > > > ***party structure*** includes – > > > > > > > > (a) a wall that – > > > > > > > > > > > > (i) forms part of a building; and > > > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) separates adjoining buildings that belong to different owners or that are occupied by different persons; and > > > > > > > > > (b) a wall, forming part of a building, that stands – > > > > > > > > > > > > (i) outside the footings of the building; and > > > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) on lands that belong to more than one owner; and > > > > > > > > > (c) a wall, partition, arch, floor or other structure separating buildings vertically or horizontally that is approached by a distinct staircase or separate entrance; > > > > > ***performance solution*** has the same meaning as in the National Construction Code; > > > > > ***permit authority*** – see [section 24](#GS24@EN) ; > > > > > ***permit building work*** – see [section 128](#GS128@EN) ; > > > > > ***permit demolition work*** – see [section 179](#GS179@EN) ; > > > > > ***permit of substantial compliance*** means a permit of substantial compliance granted under [section 260](#GS260@EN) ; > > > > > ***permit plumbing work*** – see [section 154](#GS154@EN) ; > > > > > ***permit work*** includes permit building work, permit plumbing work and permit demolition work; > > > > > ***plumbing installation*** includes – > > > > > > > > (a) a system of water supply; and > > > > > > > > > (b) a system of sewage or sullage drainage or disposal; and > > > > > > > > > (c) a system of stormwater drainage, roof drainage or trade waste drainage; and > > > > > > > > > (d) an on-site system, for the management or re-use of waste water, that is – > > > > > > > > > > > > (i) a disposal or treatment system servicing one or more blocks; or > > > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) an on-site composting toilet or system; or > > > > > > > > > > > > > (iii) an on-site incinerating toilet; and > > > > > > > > > (e) any other prescribed system; > > > > > ***plumbing order*** means a plumbing order served under [section 250](#GS250@EN) ; > > > > > ***plumbing permit*** means a plumbing permit issued under [section 169](#GS169@EN) ; > > > > > ***Plumbing Regulations*** means regulations made under this Act that relate to plumbing work; > > > > > ***plumbing work*** means any work relating to – > > > > > > > > (a) installing, altering or maintaining a plumbing installation; or > > > > > > > > > (b) any other prescribed work; > > > > > ***premises*** includes – > > > > > > > > (a) land or part of land; and > > > > > > > > > (b) a building; and > > > > > > > > > (c) any other thing as is prescribed; > > > > > ***protection work*** – see [section 76(1)](#GS76@Gs1@EN) ; > > > > > ***publish*** – see [section 23](#GS23@EN) ; > > > > > ***regulations*** means regulations made under this Act; > > > > > ***reporting authority*** means a body or organisation prescribed for the purpose of this definition; > > > > > ***required report*** means a report made by a reporting authority as part of the process of determining an application under this Act; > > > > > ***responsible person*** – see [section 5](#GS5@EN) ; > > > > > ***special-use building*** means a building, or a class of buildings, that the Director has determined to be used for a special purpose; > > > > > ***specified*** means specified by the Director of Building Control; > > > > > ***staged permit*** means a building permit, plumbing permit or demolition permit that is issued in respect of a stage of work under this Act; > > > > > ***standard of work certificate*** includes – > > > > > > > > (a) a standard of work certificate (notifiable building work); and > > > > > > > > > (b) a standard of work certificate (notifiable plumbing work); and > > > > > > > > > (c) a standard of work certificate (notifiable demolition work); and > > > > > > > > > (d) a standard of work certificate (permit building work); and > > > > > > > > > (e) a standard of work certificate (permit plumbing work); and > > > > > > > > > (f) a standard of work certificate (permit demolition work); > > > > > ***standard of work certificate (notifiable building work)*** means a standard of work certificate (notifiable building work) provided in accordance with [section 103](#GS103@EN) ; > > > > > ***standard of work certificate (notifiable demolition work)*** means a standard of work certificate (notifiable demolition work) provided in accordance with [section 126](#GS126@EN) ; > > > > > ***standard of work certificate (notifiable plumbing work)*** means a standard of work certificate (notifiable plumbing work) provided in accordance with [section 114](#GS114@EN) ; > > > > > ***standard of work certificate (permit building work)*** means a standard of work certificate (permit building work) provided in accordance with [section 151](#GS151@EN) ; > > > > > ***standard of work certificate (permit demolition work)*** means a standard of work certificate (permit demolition work) provided in accordance with [section 201](#GS201@EN) ; > > > > > ***standard of work certificate (permit plumbing work)*** means a standard of work certificate (permit plumbing work) provided in accordance with [section 177](#GS177@EN) ; > > > > > ***start-work authorisation*** means authorisation to start work provided under [section 99(1)(c)](#GS99@Gs1@Hpc@EN) , [section 110(1)(c)](#GS110@Gs1@Hpc@EN) or [section 122(1)(c)](#GS122@Gs1@Hpc@EN) ; > > > > > ***temporary occupancy permit*** means a temporary occupancy permit issued under [section 232](#GS232@EN) ; > > > > > ***temporary structure*** includes – > > > > > > > > (a) a booth, tent or other temporary enclosure, whether or not part of the booth, tent or temporary enclosure is permanent; and > > > > > > > > > (b) a temporary seating structure; and > > > > > > > > > (c) a structure prescribed for the purposes of this definition; > > > > > ***work*** includes building work, plumbing work and demolition work. > > > (2)  For the purposes of this Act, the nature, purpose or use of a building is – > > > > > > (a) to be determined from the design of the building; or > > > > > > > (b) if the building is suitable for different purposes or uses by its design, to be determined according to its most natural purpose or use as inferred from its design, its situation and the declared intention of the owner at the relevant time. > > > (3)  For the purposes of this Act – > > > > > > (a) a reference in this Act to the class of a building is a reference to that class as set out in the National Construction Code; and > > > > > > > (b) if the class of a building is unclear or disputed, the relevant building surveyor for the building must classify it as belonging to the class of building it most closely resembles.