Mandatory Building Inspections in Victoria: What Stages Mean

Every Victorian building permit lists mandatory notification stages. Miss them and you risk a building notice or building order, rework, and delays to your occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection. Here is how the stages work when NEBA is your relevant building surveyor, using the wording in the Building Regulations 2018 and BPC practice note MI-01.

Why inspections are mandatory

At each mandatory notification stage specified on the permit, the builder (or person in charge of the work) must notify the RBS, and an inspection must occur before work proceeds past that stage. The stages on your permit are project-specific. Always follow the permit, not a generic internet checklist.

Prescribed stages for construction or alteration (regulation 167)

For construction of a new building or alteration of an existing building, regulation 167 of the Building Regulations 2018 prescribes these mandatory notification stages:

• Before placing a footing
• Before pouring an in-situ reinforced concrete member that is specified in the building permit by the RBS
• Completion of framework
• Final, on the completion of all building work

Separately, regulation 172 can require inspection of fire and smoke resisting building elements. That sits beside the regulation 167 list, not inside it.

Under regulation 170, the RBS may omit a regulation 167 stage if it is not relevant to the building work. Where possible, the permit should use the same terms as the Regulations (MI-01).

Additional inspections (not prescribed as mandatory stages)

Waterproofing of wet areas is not a prescribed regulation 167 stage. MI-01 notes that the RBS should consider whether any inspections should occur in addition to the prescribed mandatory notification stages, and can require them as a condition of the permit. Waterproofing and fire-rated elements are examples of additional inspections the RBS may add. If wet-area waterproofing appears on your permit, treat it as a permit condition, not as a prescribed mandatory notification stage under regulation 167.

Pools and demolition have their own lists

Demolition or removal of a building has prescribed stages under regulation 168. Construction of a swimming pool or spa has prescribed stages under regulation 169 (including excavation, footing or in-situ concrete where specified, public precautions where required, and final on completion of the pool or spa and related safety barrier). Those lists sit beside regulation 167. Always read your own permit.

Booking with NEBA

Give us notice before the stage is ready so an inspector can attend across our service area. We coordinate around builder programs from Euroa through Shepparton, Benalla and Wangaratta. Details: residential inspections.

Owner builders

Owner builders must follow the same inspection rules. If you later sell within the statutory window, you may also need a Section 137B report.

This guide covers Victorian law only. For Albury NSW work, see building permits Albury.

Questions about a stage on your permit? Call NEBA with your permit number.