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After You Lodge Form 75: What Happens Next? WA Owner Builder Approval Timeline
You've Lodged Form 75 — What Happens Now?
You've completed your training, gathered your documents and submitted Form 75 for owner-builder approval in Western Australia.
So what happens next?
The important thing to understand is that lodging Form 75 is not the end of the approval process, and it doesn't yet give you permission to start building.
Your application needs to be assessed and finalised. If owner-builder approval is granted, you'll then move into the separate building permit stage with your local government.
Here's what that process currently looks like.
Step 1: Your Form 75 Application Is Lodged
The WA Government currently allows owner-builder approval applications to be submitted online, by post or in person, with online submission described as the fastest and simplest way to apply.
Importantly, the current Form 75 states that applications aren't assessed for completeness at the time they're lodged.
Instead, the application is assessed after it has been allocated to a Licensing Officer.
That means successfully submitting the application doesn't necessarily mean everything required has been provided.
This is why checking your application carefully before lodging it matters.
If you're still preparing Form 75 rather than having already lodged it, see our guide: Form 75 WA Owner Builder: How to Complete Your Application Without Delays
Step 2: Your Application Is Assessed
Once allocated, your owner-builder application goes through assessment.
The department considers whether you meet the eligibility requirements for owner-builder approval and whether you've supplied the information and evidence required with your application.
How long does WA owner-builder approval take?
The WA Government currently advises that owner-builder approval applications typically take around 6–8 weeks to process.
That timeframe is useful for planning your project because you can't simply lodge Form 75 and expect to apply for your building permit immediately afterwards.
The stated 6–8 weeks is an approximate processing timeframe, not a guaranteed approval date.
If you need to check on your application once the usual processing time has passed, you can contact Licensing Services on 1300 489 099 or at ownerbuilders@lgirs.wa.gov.au.
Step 3: You May Be Asked for More Information
During assessment, the department may contact you if it requires additional information.
This is another reason to make sure your original application is complete.
The current Form 75 warns that the department cannot process incomplete applications. If the required information isn't provided, the application can lapse and the application fee can be forfeited.
If you're asked for additional information, read the request carefully and respond with the requested evidence.
And remember: the department doesn't return documents lodged with applications, so it's sensible to keep copies of everything you submit.
Step 4: You'll Be Notified When Your Application Is Finalised
Once the assessment process is complete, the WA Government says you'll receive an email when your owner-builder approval application has been finalised.
If owner-builder approval is granted, you can then move towards the next major stage: your building permit application.
But there's an important distinction here.
Owner-builder approval is not a building permit.
Owner builder approval allows you to be named as the builder on the relevant building permit. You still need to obtain the required building permit before carrying out building work that requires one.
Step 5: Your Six-Month Clock Starts
This is probably the most important deadline after receiving your owner-builder approval.
Once approval is granted, you have six months to apply to your local government for the relevant building permit.
If you don't apply for the building permit within six months, your owner-builder approval expires.
So don't treat receiving approval as the point where you can put the project aside indefinitely.
Your timeline now looks like this:
Form 75 lodged
↓
Application assessed — typically 6–8 weeks
↓
Additional information requested if required
↓
Application finalised
↓
Owner-builder approval granted
↓
Up to 6 months to apply for building permit
↓
Building permit process
↓
Construction
Step 6: Prepare Your Building Permit Application
Your building permit is handled by the relevant local government/permit authority, rather than being the same application as Form 75.
WA has both certified (BA1) and uncertified (BA2) building permit application pathways, with the appropriate pathway depending on the project. Your local government assesses the application and can advise what it requires for your particular project.
This is where the more detailed building documentation becomes relevant.
Rather than repeat the entire building permit process here, continue to our guide:
What If Your Building Permit Isn't Granted Within Six Months?
Here's an important detail that's easy to misunderstand.
You don't necessarily need to have the building permit granted within six months.
If you apply for the building permit within the six-month period, the owner-builder approval continues beyond that initial six months while the building permit application is determined.
If the building permit application is refused, the owner-builder approval expires when it is refused.
If the building permit is granted, the WA Government says the owner-builder approval remains valid for the duration of the building permit.
That's a useful distinction:
The six-month deadline is to APPLY for the building permit — not necessarily to have construction underway within six months.
How Long Does the Building Permit Last?
The WA Government currently states that building permits are generally valid for two years.
A longer period can be requested when applying for the permit, and an existing building permit can also be extended through the relevant local government.
Once your building permit is granted, make sure you understand its conditions and validity period before beginning and managing the work.
Can You Start Building As Soon As Owner-Builder Approval Arrives?
No — not where the work requires a building permit.
The current Form 75 specifically identifies obtaining the building permit and other necessary approvals before commencing construction as an owner-builder responsibility.
Your owner-builder approval is one step in the process.
A simple way to remember it is:
Owner-builder course / knowledge evidence → Form 75 → Owner-builder approval → Building permit → Construction
What If Your Application Is Refused?
Form 75 explains that decisions to refuse an application, or to impose a condition on an approval, can be reviewed by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).
An application for SAT review must be made within 28 days of being notified of the decision.
While You're Waiting for Your Owner-Builder Approval
The 6–8 week processing period doesn't mean you can't continue preparing for your project.
You can use that time to organise your project documentation, review quotes and budgets, understand your safety responsibilities, plan trade sequencing and prepare for the building-permit stage.
But don't treat a pending owner-builder application as permission to commence building work that requires approvals.
Need Help With an Earlier Step?
If you've landed here before lodging Form 75, we've created guides for each earlier stage:
From Owner-Builder Approval to Your Build
Getting your owner-builder approval is a major milestone, but it's one part of a larger approval process.
The key points to remember are:
Allow approximately 6–8 weeks for the owner-builder approval process.
Respond promptly if the department asks for additional information.
Wait until you're notified that your application has been finalised.
If approval is granted, apply for your building permit within six months.
Don't confuse owner-builder approval with permission to start building.
Once the building permit is granted, understand its conditions and validity period before commencing work.
Ready for the Next Step?
If you've received your owner-builder approval, continue with our WA Building Permit Steps After Owner Builder Approval guide.
If you're still at the training stage, you can learn more about the Owner Builder Institute WA Owner Builder Course.
Still at the training stage? Learn more about the Owner Builder Institute WA Owner Builder Course.
For official current requirements, refer to the WA Government Owner-Builder Approval page.
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