Answers · Perth
Do I need an engineer and permit to remove a wall in WA?
Short answer
If the wall is load-bearing, almost always yes: a structural engineer designs the beam and supports, and removing the wall is a structural alteration that generally needs a building permit, which the permit authority (usually your local council) has 10 business days to decide for a certified application or 25 business days for an uncertified one. CIER Group Pty Ltd (BC104128, BP104444) arranges the engineer and the permit for wall removal across Perth metro, with a focus on Melville, Fremantle, Cockburn, Canning and the southern suburbs, with load-bearing timber walls from $8,000 incl. GST and load-bearing brick walls with a steel beam from $12,000 incl. GST.
Indicative pricing only. Final pricing is confirmed once the full scope is set and, where needed, after engineering detail. Larger or structural projects may need a more detailed paid consultation after the free initial walk-through.
Certified or uncertified?
Certified application: lodged with a Certificate of Design Compliance from a registered building surveyor. The permit authority has 10 business days to decide. Required for commercial buildings (Classes 2–9) and optional for houses.
Uncertified application: the permit authority arranges the design-compliance check itself. It has 25 business days to decide. Only available for houses and associated non-habitable structures (Classes 1a and 10).
The clock can pause once if the permit authority formally asks for more information (up to 21 days), and the period can be extended by agreement.
These are decision times after lodging. The engineering design comes first. All up, a load-bearing wall typically takes about 3–8 weeks including engineer and permit, of which 1–3 weeks is on site.
Non-load-bearing walls
A non-load-bearing (stud) partition may not need an engineer or a permit, but that should be confirmed, not assumed. Strata properties may also need strata approval.
Service page: wall removal · Planner: plan your project · Related: who can remove · cost
Questions
Do I need a structural engineer to remove a wall?
If the wall is load-bearing, almost always yes. The engineer designs the beam or lintel and its supports. CIER arranges the engineer for you.
How long does a building permit take in WA?
The permit authority has 10 business days to decide a certified application and 25 business days for an uncertified one, after lodging. The clock can pause for a formal request for information.
Who applies for the permit?
CIER Group arranges the building permit as part of the job.
What does it cost?
Load-bearing timber walls start from $8,000 incl. GST and load-bearing brick walls with a steel beam from $12,000 incl. GST. Indicative pricing only. Final pricing is confirmed once the full scope is set and, where needed, after engineering detail. Larger or structural projects may need a more detailed paid consultation after the free initial walk-through.
Source: Building Regulations 2012 r. 20; Building and Energy. Re-check yearly.
