Building permit number, levy and reporting changes from 1 July 2019

Important changes are being introduced to Victoria's building permit and levy laws from 1 July 2019. These changes affect the Building Act 1993 (the Act) and the Building Regulations 2018 (the Regulations).

From 1 July:

  • the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) must issue a building permit number before a relevant building surveyor can issue a building permit

  • owners have a new duty to notify the VBA of revised final costs of work

  • the VBA will have new powers to re-assess a levy after issuance of a building permit; and

  • revised mandatory monthly reporting duties will apply under regulation 47 of the Act and repeal of regulation 46 (monthly levy reporting) of the Act.

To assist in the implementation of these reforms, the VBA is developing an online platform, known as the Building Activity Management System (BAMS). This platform will:

  • accept applications for building permit numbers (BPNs)

  • process levy payments

  • issue BPNs

  • accept mandatory monthly reports from relevant building surveyors; and

  • accept amendments to BPNs and building permits.