BA1 — certified application
A BA1 is an Application for a building permit — certified. It is lodged with a Certificate of Design Compliance (BA3) from a registered building surveyor.
Patio & Shed Permits & Approvals
WA Shire Approval Centre
Everything you need to know about patio and shed approvals across Western Australia.
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Do I Need Shire Approval?
Whether approval is needed depends on the project, site and applicable requirements. A patio or shed may need a building permit, development approval, both, or neither. Confirm the applicable pathway with the permit authority or a registered building surveyor before building.
Building permit pathways
BA1 and BA2: two different application paths
The right path depends on the project and eligibility. Neither application path guarantees approval.
BA2 — uncertified application
A BA2 is an uncertified application, available only for eligible Class 1a and Class 10 projects. In this pathway, the permit authority carries out the assessment and certification process.
| Pathway | Before lodgement | Assessment route |
|---|---|---|
| BA1 certified | BA3 Certificate of Design Compliance from a registered building surveyor. | The permit authority assesses the certified application. |
| BA2 uncertified | Confirm that the Class 1a or Class 10 project is eligible. | Permit-authority assessment and certification occur in this pathway. |
A typical journey
- 1Check the proposal, site and any planning controls.
- 2Confirm the building classification; patios and sheds may be Class 10, but this must be confirmed.
- 3Find out whether development approval is also needed.
- 4Choose the BA1 or, if eligible, BA2 pathway.
- 5Prepare the plans and supporting documents.
- 6For BA1, obtain the BA3 from a registered building surveyor.
- 7Lodge with the relevant permit authority and respond to any request for information.
- 8Wait for the decision before starting work, if a permit is required.
This is a typical journey only: steps may change, overlap or depend on the project and authority.
Development approval is not a building permit
Development approval addresses planning matters such as use, siting and relevant planning controls. A building permit is a separate building-control approval. One does not automatically replace the other.
Who does what?
| Owner | Remains responsible for obtaining and maintaining required approvals and providing accurate project information. |
|---|---|
| PSKWA | May provide administrative assistance only where that service is selected. |
| Surveyor / certifier | Provides certification services within their engagement, including a BA3 where applicable. |
| Local government / permit authority | Receives and assesses the application and makes the permit decision in its statutory role. |
Assessment periods and timing
Current official local-government guidance commonly states statutory assessment periods of 10 business days for certified applications and 25 business days for uncertified applications. These are assessment periods only, not total-project guarantees. Requests for information and other approvals can affect elapsed time; confirm the current period with the relevant authority.
Current WA Government building approvals informationBefore you order
Property pre-check before you order
What should I check about my property before I finalise a patio or shed? Education and preparation only. These prompts can help you organise questions before ordering; they do not determine a legal, planning, building or permit outcome.
- 1.Start with the title and placement area.
- 2.Request available service information.
- 3.Note boundaries and visible site constraints.
- 4.Use mapping as an initial planning check.
- 5.Raise access and site questions early.
- 6.Confirm relevant questions with qualified providers and authorities.
Title and easements
A current title record may show ownership, legal description and registered interests, but no one document shows every constraint. Easements may benefit or burden land and may matter near a proposed placement.
Use qualified legal or property interpretation for rights or interests relevant to your proposal.
Services and network assets
Underground electricity, gas, telecommunications, water and sewer services, and overhead network assets, may need early awareness. BYDA is a referral and service-plan starting point, not exact locating; Water Corporation assets may affect placement or an application.
Follow current asset-owner and qualified locator guidance; this does not provide clearances or excavation instructions.
Boundaries and survey information
Fences, features, maps and existing structures are not proof of a legal boundary. Official survey documents can inform an early check where a placement position matters.
Use a licensed surveyor where legal boundary position needs to be established.
Planning controls
Setbacks and local planning can vary with the lot, project, zoning, framework, local government and site. PlanWA is an initial check only, including planning, heritage and special-area mapping.
Do not rely on universal distances; confirm questions with the relevant authority or practitioner and review the BA1/BA2 guidance.
Covenants
Registered or private restrictions may matter to a proposal and can appear in title material.
Seek qualified legal or property advice about interpretation or enforceability.
Access
Early notes about delivery, material and construction access can include gates, narrow drives, turning space, slopes and overhead obstructions. This City of Swan example is not statewide guidance.
Confirm practical logistics with an appropriate qualified provider; no delivery or crane feasibility is promised.
Visible site constraints
You can note existing structures, pools, retaining walls, fences, tanks, on-site wastewater, slope, levels, drainage paths, infrastructure and other visible constraints before ordering.
Questions about septic systems, strata, BAL, bushfire, flood, heritage, coastal or acid-sulfate matters need future evidence or the relevant authority or qualified provider.
PSKWA cannot inspect title or legal rights, locate services, confirm boundaries, or determine planning controls. Qualified providers and relevant authorities do that.
PSKWA provides education and preparation prompts only.
Qualified providers and relevant authorities assess their own areas of responsibility.
Official sources for these preparation prompts
- Landgate: Reading a Certificate of Title
- Landgate: Easements
- Landgate: Covenants
- Landgate: Survey plans and documents
- DPLH: PlanWA
- DPLH: Local planning strategies, schemes and structure plans
- Water Corporation: Locating our assets
- City of Swan: Local development plan
- Before You Dig Australia: Guide to free plans
- Before You Dig Australia: Duty of care
- Western Power: Building construction
- Water Corporation: Building on a residential property
Common Documents Required
- A site plan showing the structure's position, dimensions and boundary setbacks.
- Structural plans and elevations for the patio or shed.
- Design and supporting documentation required for the selected application pathway.
- The relevant building permit application form.
- A planning (development) application form, where planning approval is required.
- Bushfire (BAL) construction details if your site is in a bushfire-prone area.
The exact list depends on the project and application pathway. Use our checklists to prepare your application.
Find My Council
Find Your Local Council
Enter your suburb to see which Western Australian local government covers your property and jump straight to its approval information.
We currently cover 30 WA councils: City of Swan, City of Wanneroo, City of Joondalup, Shire of Mundaring, City of Cockburn, City of Stirling, City of Gosnells, City of Armadale, City of Rockingham, City of Melville, City of Canning, City of Bayswater, City of Kalamunda, City of Mandurah, Shire of Murray, Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Shire of Waroona, Shire of Boddington, Shire of Chittering, Shire of Gingin, Shire of Toodyay, Shire of York, Shire of Northam, Shire of Beverley, Shire of Dandaragan, Shire of Moora, Shire of Victoria Plains, Shire of Cuballing, Shire of Brookton, Shire of Pingelly — with more being added over time.
Council Directory
WA Council Approval Directory
Area-specific guidance and official links for Western Australian local governments. More councils are being added over time.
City of Swan
North-east metropolitan Perth, Swan Valley & rural
View approval guideCity of Wanneroo
Northern coastal growth corridor & semi-rural east
View approval guideCity of Joondalup
Established northern coastal suburbs
View approval guideShire of Mundaring
Perth Hills — bushfire-prone & semi-rural
View approval guideCity of Cockburn
South-west coastal Perth & urban infill
View approval guideCity of Stirling
Established northern coastal & infill suburbs
View approval guideCity of Gosnells
South-east metropolitan Perth
View approval guideCity of Armadale
South-east metropolitan & Darling Scarp foothills
View approval guideCity of Rockingham
South-west coastal Perth
View approval guideCity of Melville
Riverside southern Perth suburbs
View approval guideCity of Canning
South-east metropolitan Perth
View approval guideCity of Bayswater
Inner north-east riverside suburbs
View approval guideCity of Kalamunda
Perth Hills & eastern foothills
View approval guideCity of Mandurah
Peel coastal city
View approval guideShire of Murray
Peel — Pinjarra, Ravenswood & Dwellingup
View approval guideShire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale
South-east Perth peri-urban & Darling Scarp
View approval guideShire of Waroona
Peel — coast to Darling Scarp
View approval guideShire of Boddington
Peel inland — rural & forest
View approval guideShire of Chittering
Northern rural — Bindoon & the Chittering Valley
View approval guideShire of Gingin
Coastal & rural north of Perth
View approval guideShire of Toodyay
Avon Valley rural
View approval guideShire of York
Avon Valley — historic York
View approval guideShire of Northam
Avon Valley & eastern Wheatbelt
View approval guideShire of Beverley
Avon Valley Wheatbelt
View approval guideShire of Dandaragan
Turquoise Coast & Wheatbelt
View approval guideShire of Moora
Central Wheatbelt
View approval guideShire of Victoria Plains
Central Wheatbelt — Calingiri & New Norcia
View approval guideShire of Cuballing
Central-southern Wheatbelt
View approval guideShire of Brookton
Central-southern Wheatbelt
View approval guideShire of Pingelly
Central-southern Wheatbelt
View approval guideDownloads
Downloadable Checklists
Free, printable checklists and guides to help you prepare your application. Open any one and choose Print / Save as PDF.
Share Your Plans For A General Discussion
Send us your patio or shed plans, drawings or photos. Where selected, our WA team can provide administrative assistance to help you understand the approval process.
Can I Build This?
Send us your project and property information for a free project review. Our WA team provides general administrative and process guidance based on the information submitted; the relevant authority decides which requirements apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the project, site and applicable requirements. A patio or shed may need a building permit, development approval, both, or neither. Confirm the pathway for your property with the permit authority or a registered building surveyor before building.
A building permit is the building-control approval pathway. Development approval is a separate planning decision that can consider land use, siting, setbacks, height and applicable planning controls. A project may need one, both, or neither; confirm the requirements for the site.
Documents depend on the application pathway and project. They can include a site plan, plans and elevations, supporting design documentation, the relevant application form, and bushfire information where applicable. Confirm the current document list with the permit authority or building surveyor.
Project requirements can depend on the applicable state framework, planning controls, site and permit authority processes. Check the current requirements with the relevant local government or permit authority rather than relying on a general guide.
We point you to official local information rather than quoting rules that may change. Our team can provide administrative assistance where that service is selected; the owner remains responsible for approvals. For project-specific requirements, contact the local government, permit authority or a registered building surveyor.
We're adding more Western Australian councils over time. If yours is not listed, use the general guides as a starting point and confirm current requirements with the relevant local government, permit authority or registered building surveyor.