The building permit cost in Melbourne is made up of two parts: your building surveyor’s professional fee, which depends on the size and complexity of the job, and government charges, mainly the building permit levy (0.128% of the cost of work over $10,000) and the council lodgement fee ($142.10 in 2026–27). Depending on your project, you may also pay council report and consent fees and for reports from other consultants.
Below is a line-by-line breakdown with current figures, what pushes fees up or down, and how to get a quote with no surprises. For a firm price on your project, request a free building permit quote.
What makes up the building permit cost in Melbourne?
| Cost item | Who sets it | 2026–27 amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building surveyor’s fee | Your building surveyor (private or council) | Quoted per project |
| Building permit levy | State Government, paid to the BPC | 0.128% of the cost of work, if over $10,000 |
| Building Reform Levy | State Government, paid to the BPC | 0.37%, larger apartment and commercial projects only |
| Council lodgement fee | Building Regulations (8.23 fee units) | $142.10 |
| Council report and consent | Building Regulations or your council | Only if needed, e.g. $474.10 per siting regulation varied |
| Consultants’ reports | Each consultant | Quoted separately |
The building surveyor’s fee
This is the professional fee for assessing your plans, issuing the permit, carrying out the mandatory inspections and issuing the certificate of final inspection or occupancy permit at the end. It isn’t a government charge. A private building surveyor quotes each project and asks you to sign a contract, and councils that offer building surveying set their own fees; Merri-bek, for example, prices permits as a percentage of the cost of works, with a minimum fee. You can see how the work is staged on our building permit process page.
The main drivers of the fee are:
- Project type and size – a freestanding shed is simpler to assess than a two-storey extension or a commercial fit-out.
- Number of inspections – a new home has more mandatory inspection stages than a deck, and failed inspections mean re-inspections.
- Complexity – performance solutions, fire safety upgrades, bushfire or flood requirements, or a change of use.
- Consents and coordination – siting variations, easements and protection work all take extra time.
- Location – travel for inspections, particularly in regional Victoria.
- Your documents – complete, well-coordinated drawings take less time to assess than plans that need several rounds of changes.
How much is the building permit levy?
If the cost of building work is more than $10,000, the building permit levy is payable at 0.128% of that cost, including GST. It has two equal parts, one funding the building control system and one funding the dispute resolution service, both now run by the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), which replaced the Victorian Building Authority on 1 July 2025.
The levy is paid to the BPC through its online system before the building permit number, and therefore the permit, can be issued. Some examples:
- $30,000 deck: $38.40
- $250,000 extension: $320
- $600,000 new home: $768
You can check the figure for your project with the BPC’s building permit levy calculator.
How is the cost of building work worked out?
Since 26 November 2025, the building surveyor calculates the cost of work from figures you give in the permit application: usually the contract price for labour and materials, including GST, less the cost of chattels (movable items not needed to comply with the NCC, such as loose furniture). Owner-builders estimate their own labour and materials. The building surveyor can refuse an application if the figures look materially wrong, so use the real price.
The Building Reform Levy on larger projects
From 1 July 2026 until 30 June 2029, a Building Reform Levy of 0.37% applies on top of the standard levy for Class 2 to 8 buildings (apartments, hotels, offices, shops, warehouses and factories, for example) outside regional Victoria where the cost of work is $1.5 million or more. It replaced the old cladding rectification levy. Houses and home extensions don’t pay it.
Council lodgement fee
Within 7 days of issuing your permit, the building surveyor must lodge a copy with your council, together with the lodgement fee, which is usually collected from you with the permit fees. The fee is set in the Building Regulations at 8.23 fee units. Fee units are indexed each financial year: a fee unit is worth $17.27 in 2026–27, up from $16.81 in 2025–26, which makes the lodgement fee $142.10 this financial year.
Council report and consent fees
If your design doesn’t meet a siting rule, or you’re building over an easement, on flood-prone land or beyond the street alignment, you’ll need council’s report and consent before the permit can issue. Statutory fees for 2026–27 include:
- Varying a Part 5 siting regulation (setbacks, height, overlooking and similar): $474.10 for each regulation
- Building on flood-prone land, or projecting beyond the street alignment: $338.70
- Consent to demolish: $99.30
Fees for consent to build over an easement vary between councils; in 2026–27 it is $385 at Knox and $421 at Merri-bek, for example. Some councils also charge if they collect neighbours’ comments for you.
Other consultants you may need
These costs sit outside the permit fee, but the building surveyor usually needs their documents before assessing your application:
- Structural engineer – footings, slabs, framing, retaining walls and computations.
- Soil test – a site classification for new footings, typically for new homes and extensions.
- Energy rating – since 1 May 2024, new homes assessed under NatHERS, the most common pathway, need a 7-star rating and a whole-of-home rating of at least 60; a NatHERS accredited assessor prepares the report. Extensions and major renovations may also need to comply.
- Land surveyor – a feature and level survey or boundary re-establishment where you’re building close to a boundary or on a slope.
- Bushfire assessment – in bushfire-prone areas, new homes, alterations and additions, including garages and sheds, must be built to bushfire standards such as AS 3959, which starts with a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment.
- Protection work – if your work could damage a neighbour’s property, you’ll serve protection work notices and pay the adjoining owner’s reasonable costs, such as their specialist’s fees.
Two more costs are worth knowing about. If a registered builder does domestic work worth more than $20,000, the builder pays for Home Warranty insurance and a Notice of Cover is issued to you as the owner. If you’re an owner-builder doing work worth more than $20,000, you’ll need a certificate of consent from the BPC – see our owner-builder guide.
How to get an accurate building permit quote
The fastest route to a firm price is to give your building surveyor the full picture up front:
- the site address, title and plan of subdivision
- your drawings, even preliminary ones: site plan, floor plans and elevations
- the contract price or estimated cost of work
- whether a planning permit is needed, and the endorsed plans if one has been issued
- who is building: a registered builder or you as an owner-builder
When comparing quotes, check what’s included: how many inspections, re-inspection fees, report and consent applications, the final certificate and whether government charges are included. The BPC recommends itemised quotes so you can compare like with like. Then request your free quote from JLN and we’ll tell you what applies to your project before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Is the levy included in a building surveyor’s quote?
It depends on the quote, so ask. The levy is a government charge paid to the BPC before the permit issues, and it’s 0.128% of the cost of work where that cost is more than $10,000.
Do I pay the levy on a small job?
No, not if the cost of building work is $10,000 or less. You’ll still pay the building surveyor’s fee and any council charges that apply. Not sure your job needs a permit at all? Read do I need a building permit in Victoria?
Why do quotes from building surveyors vary?
Quotes differ in what they include (inspections, travel, consents and final certificates) and in how each surveyor assesses the complexity of your project. Compare the scope, not just the total.
Do council fees change every year?
Yes. Statutory building fees are set in fee units, and the value of a fee unit is updated each financial year from 1 July. Check current figures with your building surveyor or council.
What if my design needs a siting variation?
In 2026–27, council’s report and consent fee is $474.10 for each siting regulation you’re varying, and council has up to 15 business days to decide siting matters for houses and outbuildings. See how long a building permit takes.
Want a firm number for your project? Call JLN on 0422 234 951 or request a free quote. Our building surveyors will give you fast, practical advice and a clear breakdown of what’s included.
This article is general information current as of September 2026, not legal advice. Every project is different – ask us to confirm what applies to yours.