- Building Permit (BP)
- Planning Permit (PP)
NT Specifications
Before construction starts, a building certifier must assess your building plans for compliance with the law, and issue a building permit for the building work.
You must comply with all conditions of the building permit before and during the work.
The building certifier must provide a copy of the building permit to you or your agent.
The certifier must submit a copy of the permit, plans and relevant documents to the Director of Building Control at Building Advisory Services in the Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment.
Building permits are only required in building control areas of the NT. Read about building control areas.
A building permit sets conditions on the construction, demolition or alteration of a building. It details your building work and states that your plans are lawful before construction begins.
Check the table below to see if you need a building permit for your project.
For a residential building or associated structure you may also need a building contract and fidelity fund certificate. You may have to use a registered builder. Read about building or renovating a home.
| Building work | Building permit | Other requirements |
|---|---|---|
| New house | Required | Read about building or renovating a home |
| New units, townhouses or apartments | Required | |
| Shop or office fit-out | Required | |
| Warehouse | Required | |
| Relocating an existing house to a new location | Required | Read about building or renovating a home |
| Renovating a bathroom in a house - changing walls, fixtures or plumbing | Required | Read about renovating and refurbishing wet areasand building or renovating a home |
| Renovating a bathroom in a house - no change to walls, fixtures or plumbing | Not required | Read about renovating and refurbishing wet areasand building or renovating a home |
| Alterations or extensions to an existing house - increase to floor area | Required | Read about building or renovating a home |
| Alterations or extensions to an existing house - no increase in floor area | Required | Read about building or renovating a home |
| Existing house - changing windows, reroofing or replacing sheeting | Required | Read about building or renovating a home |
| Additions to an existing house - skylight, roof vents or satellite dish | Required - some exemptions apply | Read about exemptions for satellite dishes, skylights and roof ventilators |
| Solar hot-water system | Required | Go to the Building Advisory Committee website to read about solar hot-water systems |
| Solar photovoltaic installation | Required | Read about solar photovoltaic installations and solar voltaic installations - non cyclonic regions. |
| Carport or verandah addition to an existing house | Required - some exemptions apply | Read about exemptions for building a garden shed, carport, fence or shade structure and building or renovating a home |
| Garden shed or workshop | Required - some exemptions apply | Read about exemptions for building a garden shed, carport, fence or shade structure and building or renovating a home |
| Pergola or shade structure | Required - some exemptions apply | Read about exemptions for building a garden shed, carport, fence or shade structure and building or renovating a home |
| New fence or renovating an existing fence | Required - some exemptions apply | Read about exemptions for building a garden shed, carport, fence or shade structure |
| New retaining wall - supporting building work | Required | |
| New retaining wall - not supporting building work | Required if over 600mm in height | |
| Swimming pools | Not required | Read more about swimming pools and spas |
