About

Why I built this

I've spent years working in trades and engineering in Western Australia. In that time, one question comes up more than almost any other from homeowners: "Do I need a permit for this — and how much is it going to cost me?"

The honest answer should take 30 seconds. Instead, most Perth homeowners end up bouncing between council PDF documents written in planning jargon, national calculators that don't account for WA's specific rules, and tradies who give vague estimates because they don't want to commit.

    The result: over 60% of WA renovators end up spending 20–30% more than they planned, often because they didn't know a permit was required, didn't budget for it, or started work without one and had to demolish it.
  

WAPermitCheck exists to fix that. The permit rules on this site are sourced directly from the City of Bayswater, City of Gosnells, City of Perth, and City of South Perth building regulations — cross-referenced against the Building Act 2011 (WA). The cost estimates use Master Builders WA and HIA 2025 benchmarks with Perth's regional multiplier applied.

Who I am

I'm a Perth-based professional with a background in both engineering and construction trades. I built this tool in my own time because I was tired of seeing people get caught out — either paying for permits they didn't need, or getting fined for work they didn't know required one.

This site is not affiliated with any council, building company, or government body. It is an independent resource. Always verify with your specific local council before commencing work.

What this site is not

This is not a substitute for professional advice. It's a planning tool — use it to go into conversations with builders, council, and surveyors informed, not to replace them.

Questions or corrections? Contact me here. If a rule has changed or a council has updated their thresholds, I want to know.