Owner-Builder Hold Point Pack
Victoria

What can an owner-builder do in Victoria?

You can build, extend, renovate or alter a single home on your own land, and the structures that go with it, either doing the work yourself or supervising it. Some work must still go to registered or licensed people. Source: Commission: What is an owner-builder?, opening paragraph; Commission: Owner-builder eligibility, Owner-builder project types.

On this page, "the Commission" is the Building and Plumbing Commission. Read on 11 October 2026.

What you can take on

What you cannot do yourself

  • Demolition, subfloor work such as re-stumping or re-blocking, and relocating a home. These need registered building practitioners. Source: Commission: Owner-builder eligibility, Owner-builder project types.
  • Regulated trade work such as plumbing and electrical work. Engaging licensed or registered practitioners for it is one of an owner-builder's listed duties. Source: Building Regulations 2018, Schedule 2, item 7.
  • You are not an owner-builder at all if you intend to engage one builder or tradesperson to do all the building work. Source: Commission: Owner-builders, during the build, Contracts with other tradespeople.

When you need a written contract

  • You need a major domestic building contract when a registered building practitioner does work on your project costing more than $10,000, unless a single trade exemption applies. Source: Commission: Owner-builders, during the build, Contracts with other tradespeople.
  • If you needed a certificate of consent, you must not enter into a major domestic building contract with someone who is not registered as a builder for that work. Source: Building Act 1993, section 25B(1A).
  • A registered building practitioner must have Home Warranty cover in place for work over $20,000 done for an owner-builder. Source: Commission: Owner-builders, during the build, Contracts with other tradespeople.

What stays with you

  • Getting a building permit and complying with it. Carrying out building work without a permit that is in force is an offence. Source: Commission: Owner-builders, during the build, Owner-builder duties and responsibilities; Building Act 1993, section 16(1).
  • Supervising all the building work and making sure it complies. Source: Building Regulations 2018, Schedule 2, item 11.
  • Site safety. Your property may become a workplace under health and safety law while the work is on. Source: Commission: Owner-builders, during the build, Owner-builder duties and responsibilities; Building Regulations 2018, Schedule 2, item 10.
  • Fixing defects or non-compliant work for 10 years from completion, for a later owner of the property. Source: Commission: What is an owner-builder?, opening list.
  • If you sell within 6 years and 6 months of completion, a report on the building from a prescribed building practitioner, obtained no more than 6 months before the contract of sale, and the insurance requirements that apply. Source: Building Act 1993, section 137B(2) and (7).
  • Supervising is the duty that catches people out, because most of the work is hidden within days. The hold point pack lists what to look at, and what to hold in your hand, before each trade is paid.

Get the free sample of the hold point pack

The instructions and one complete stage, wet area waterproofing: what to check, and what to hold in your hand, before you pay. No sign-up.

Get the free sample (PDF, 7 pages) See what is in the full pack

More for owner-builders in Victoria

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