WA Owner Builder Course
Get approved as a WA owner builder and start your project with confidence — complete the course 100% online for just $179.
An owner builder is an individual who takes on the legal responsibility of managing and carrying out residential building work on their own property.
In Western Australia, gaining owner-builder approval allows you to apply for a building permit from your Local Government Authority (LGA), assuming the exact same risks and liabilities as a registered professional builder.
At the Owner Builder Institute, we provide the guidance, training, and resources you need to safely and successfully manage your owner-builder project.
✅ Instant Access
✅ 100% Online & Self-Paced
✅ Meets WA Form 75 Requirements
✅ Same-Day Certificate on Completion
Become a WA Owner Builder with OBI
What is an Owner Builder?
What can Owner Builders do?
Owner-builder work can include:
Constructing a detached dwelling, including granny flats.
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Carrying out additions or alterations to an existing free-standing dwelling.
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Constructing a non-habitable building such as a garage, carport, shed, or similar structures (Class 10 buildings).
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Constructing or modifying small commercial buildings, limited to one or two storeys and a maximum floor area of 500m².
Important: Owner-builder work does not include attached houses like townhouses or duplexes, as these share walls or rooflines with other dwellings.
What's included in the WA Owner Builder Course:
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Module 1 – Becoming an Owner Builder in WA
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Module 2 – What Owner Builders Can and Cannot Build
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Module 3 – Owner Builder Approval, Form 75 & Legal Status
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Module 4 – The WA Building Permit Process
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Module 5 – Reading & Interpreting Plans and Drawings
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Module 6 – Contracts, Quotes, Budgets & Progress Payments
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Module 7 – WHS Duties, PCBU & WorkSafe WA
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Module 8 – Insurance, Home Indemnity & Selling Obligations
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Module 9 – Site Management, Sequencing & Construction Safety
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Module 10 – Inspections, Completion & Pocket Guide to Safety
Most students finish in 2 - 4 hours.
Do You Need a Permit for Your WA Project?
If your building project requires a permit and the total estimated cost of materials and labor exceeds $20,000, you legally require either a registered building contractor or an official owner-builder approval certificate. Building work cannot be split into smaller contracts to bypass this threshold.
Applying to Be an Owner-Builder
To be eligible for owner-builder approval, applicants must:
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Own the land (as defined under Section 39 of the Act).
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Be an individual (not a company, trust, or other entity).
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Have sufficient knowledge of owner-builder duties—either by completing an approved course or holding relevant registration. To demonstrate this required knowledge, most applicants choose to complete a registered WA owner builder course online, which provides a flexible way to study the legal and safety modules before lodging Form 75.
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Not have been granted an owner-builder permit within the last six years, unless a waiver is approved.
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Intend to occupy or use the property once construction is complete.
Note: For multiple owners of the property, all registered owners must sign the application form (Form 75).
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted:
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Online: [Owner-Builder Approval Online Submission]
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By Post or In Person: Submit Form 75 with the Application Payment Form attached.
⚠️ Important Application Notice (Form 75 Update):
Western Australia's Building and Energy division will not accept older versions of Form 75 after 1 June 2026. Applications submitted on outdated forms after this date will be returned to the applicant. Always ensure you download the current version directly before submitting.
Application Fees: Non-refundable, payable at submission.
Processing Time
Most applications are processed within 6 weeks, but delays may occur during high application volumes.
You can help speed up processing by:
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Completing the application fully.
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Attaching all required documents, including a current Certificate of Title or Contract to Purchase.
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Submitting online.
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For urgent inquiries, contact LGIRS at 1300 489 099 or email ownerbuilders@lgirs.wa.gov.au.
Owner-Builder Duties & Responsibilities
As an owner-builder, you assume many of the responsibilities of a registered builder:
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Complying with the Building Code of Australia and safety regulations.
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Obtaining permits and submitting required notices.
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Managing and supervising the entire project.
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Scheduling and supervising trades.
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Ensuring work quality and rectifying defects.
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Maintaining appropriate insurance coverage.
Note: Delegating work does not remove your responsibilities. You remain accountable for all building work.
Intent to Occupy and Approval Validity
To be eligible, you must intend to live in or use the property after completion — owner builder approval is not suitable for properties intended for immediate sale. If you sell an owner-built home within seven years, home indemnity insurance is required.
Your approval expires after six months if no building permit application is made. Once a building permit is issued, the approval remains valid for the duration of that permit. Building permits are valid for two years; extensions can be requested if needed.
Insurance
As an owner builder in Western Australia, you take on many of the same responsibilities and risks as a licensed builder. Having the right insurance in place helps protect your project, your finances, and the people who come onto or near your site.
Owner builder contract works insurance
Owner builder contract works (construction) insurance is designed to protect the value of your build during construction. It can provide cover for loss or damage to your building works and materials from events such as fire, storm, wind, impact, vandalism or theft, depending on the policy you choose. This helps safeguard the money you have already invested if something unexpected happens while the project is underway.
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance helps protect you if a third party – for example a visitor, neighbour, tradesperson or delivery driver – is injured or their property is damaged because of your building project. It can help cover your legal defence costs and any compensation you are legally required to pay, up to the policy limits. Because construction sites can be hazardous, one incident can lead to a significant claim, and public liability insurance helps ensure that claim does not put your personal assets or family home at risk.
Check legal and project requirements
Insurance requirements can vary depending on the type and value of your project, and on whether you are building a new home, carrying out structural renovations, or doing other types of work. Always check the current rules for owner builders in Western Australia and speak with your insurer or broker about the specific cover needed for your project and permit.
Key Takeaways
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You carry builder-level responsibility
As an owner builder in WA, you effectively step into the role of a registered builder for your own project, taking responsibility for safety, compliance and quality.
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Insurance is strongly recommended
Contract works insurance helps protect the value of your build and materials against events like fire, storm and theft, while public liability insurance helps protect you if someone is injured or their property is damaged because of your project.
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One incident can be very costly
Construction sites are high-risk environments; without adequate insurance, a single serious accident or major damage event could have significant financial consequences for you personally.
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Requirements can vary by project
The type and level of insurance (and other approvals) you need may change depending on whether you are building a new home, doing structural renovations, or working on non-habitable structures, so you should always check project-specific requirements.
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Always confirm current rules
WA legislation, thresholds and permit conditions can change, so you should double-check current owner builder obligations and insurance expectations with the relevant WA regulator and your insurer or broker before starting work.
Frequently Asked Questions — WA Owner Builder Course
Q: How much does the WA owner builder course cost?
The Owner Builder Institute WA owner builder course is $179 and is completed 100% online. You can also choose our Course + Site Safety Bundle for $238, which adds the Asbestos Awareness and Silica Awareness courses and issues three certificates from a single enrolment.
Q: Is the WA owner builder course available online?
Yes. The course is 100% online and self-paced, so you can complete it from anywhere in Western Australia — Perth or regional WA — on any device. Most students finish in 2 to 4 hours and receive their certificate the same day on completion.
Q: Do I need to do an owner builder course to apply for Form 75 in WA?
In most cases, yes. Unless you are already a registered builder, you must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of an owner builder's duties and responsibilities before Building and Energy will grant owner-builder approval. Completing an owner builder course is how most applicants meet this knowledge requirement, and the certificate is attached to your Form 75 application.
Q: When do I need owner-builder approval in WA?
You need owner-builder approval if the total estimated value of your building work (materials and labour combined) is more than $20,000. From 1 July 2026, Class 10a non-habitable structures such as private sheds, garages and carports only require a registered builder or owner-builder approval once the value is $50,000 or more. A building permit from your local government is still required regardless of value. You cannot split a project into smaller contracts to stay under the threshold.
Q: How long does the course take and how fast do I get my certificate?
Most students complete the course in about 2 to 4 hours. It is self-paced, so you can stop and resume any time. Your certificate is issued the same day on completion, ready to attach to your Form 75 application.
Q: What is Form 75 and how do I apply for owner-builder approval?
Form 75 is the official Owner-Builder Approval application, assessed by Building and Energy. You apply online or by post, attaching your course certificate, proof you own the land (a Certificate of Title or contract to purchase dated within the last three months), and site, floor and elevation plans. A non-refundable application fee applies — around $212 for a residential building and $467 for a commercial building (GST not payable — fees are updated periodically, so check Building and Energy’s current fee schedule before applying). Important: only the current version of Form 75 is accepted — older versions have been rejected since 1 June 2026, so always download the latest form before submitting.
Q: How long does owner-builder approval take to be processed?
Most applications are processed within about six weeks, though this can be longer during busy periods. You can speed things up by completing the form fully, attaching all required documents, and submitting online. For queries, Building and Energy can be reached on 1300 489 099.
Q: How often can I get owner-builder approval in WA?
Generally you can only be granted one owner-builder approval every six years, unless a waiver is approved. Your approval also expires six months after it is granted if you have not applied for a building permit in that time.
Q: Do I need a White Card as well?
Yes, in most cases. The applicant who demonstrates knowledge of an owner builder’s duties and responsibilities on the Form 75 application must hold a general construction induction training card (a White Card, or the WA blue card) as part of meeting the knowledge requirement. Our WA owner builder course covers your work health and safety duties, and we offer a White Card course separately if you need one.
Q: Can I sell an owner-built home after I finish?
Owner-builder approval is intended for properties you will live in or use, not for immediate resale. If you sell an owner-built home within seven years of the building permit being issued, you are required to have home indemnity insurance in place.
Q: Is the Owner Builder Institute course accepted across Western Australia?
Yes. The course is designed specifically for Western Australia and addresses the knowledge of an owner builder’s duties and responsibilities that Building and Energy assesses as part of a Form 75 application — including your legal responsibilities, the building permit process, contracts, insurance and construction site safety — wherever you are in WA, from Perth to regional areas.