BCA reports for Darwin and the Northern Territory

How approval works in the Northern Territory

Planning comes first: a development permit under the Planning Act 1999 where the NT Planning Scheme requires one. Building approval is separate: a building permit issued by a registered building certifier, then the occupancy permit, under the Building Act 1993 (NT).

The building certifier decides whether the drawings meet the NCC. A BCA report answers those questions before the application is lodged, with every non-compliance identified, the drawing reference and a practical fix, so the approval is not a round of requests for information.

What we assess in Darwin and across NT

• Houses, dual occupancies and up to three townhouses (Class 1a), including secondary dwellings
• Sheds, garages and carports (Class 10a)
• Shops, offices, cafés, warehouses, factories and childcare centres under 2,000 m² (Class 5 to 9b)
• Apartments (Class 2), boarding houses and hotels (Class 3) and aged care (Class 9c), quoted by a certifier
• Access reports to NCC Part D4 and AS 1428.1
• Performance solutions for light and ventilation, stairs, handrails, tactile indicators and weep holes

Livable housing in the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory adopted the NCC livable housing provisions, so new Class 1a houses and Class 2 sole-occupancy units must meet the ABCB Livable Housing Design Standard, subject to any variation in the state's NCC appendix. The building certifier checks it as part of a building permit issued by a registered building certifier.

The assessment goes element by element so the approval is not a request for information.

Fees

• BCA report, Class 1a: $3,300 inc GST ($3,000 + GST); Class 10a: $3,300 inc GST ($3,000 + GST)
• BCA report, Class 5 to 9b under 300 m²: $3,300 inc GST ($3,000 + GST); 300 to 2,000 m²: $5,500 inc GST ($5,000 + GST)
• Access report $3,300 inc GST ($3,000 + GST), or $1,650 inc GST ($1,500 + GST) with a BCA report
• 72-hour delivery from a complete drawing set; 24 hours at +50%