OB in perth- steel type and cost for a class 3 building

Rafay · Jan 01, 2021 9:33 am

My wife and I are going to be OBs separately for 2 buildings (class 1a and class 3-since an OB can make a small commercial building of size, not exceeding 500 sq metres). We have decided to go for steel framing walls and strusses. What would be the best type (durable and cheap) of steel to use for both buildings? And, is it cheaper to buy steel directly and build walls and trusses on site with the help of carpenters than getting prefab walls and trusses?

Stewie D · Jan 02, 2021 10:55 am

Is the property you are building on in yours and your wifes name? If it is then you may run into issues with doing two separate OB's on the same property although in WA it might be different to here in NSW. Have you had the DA approved?

Stewie

chippy · Jan 02, 2021 11:12 am

Stewie is correct.
If the land is in both of your names then you will only be able to build one of.them.
It used to be that you could apply for an OB licence in one name, so you could get one licence in your name and another in your wife's name but when we owner built in WA last year the application now has to be in the names of everyone who owns the land.
That's obviously to prevent people getting OB licences in other people's names.

Ardo · Jan 02, 2021 4:56 pm

You could just do both under one licence. Have 5 years to do so.

chippy · Jan 02, 2021 5:14 pm

Ardo

You could just do both under one licence. Have 5 years to do so.

I don't think that is correct. Your OB approval relates to one property. The 6 year period between builds can be waived if it's on the same property otherwise it's one project every 6 years.
All owners of the property have to have their names on the OB approval. So husband can't apply for one OB approval on one property and wife on the other property unless they are in individual names.

Ardo · Jan 02, 2021 5:24 pm

If they are the same property you can build 2 buildings is what I was trying to say. Even on separate DA's.

chippy · Jan 02, 2021 5:56 pm

Even then I think you need to apply for a waiver for the second one.
Once you get OB approval you have 6 months to apply for the actual permit.
That approval would then apply to that permit.

You can build again within 6 years on the same property but you have to apply for a waiver and then another approval from what I know.

If both structures are on the same property then it would be easier to get the permit for all construction at the same time.
I can't imagine many places (except a rural property) where you would build a workshop and a house on the same property. I just assumed that they were separate properties.

Rafay · Jan 03, 2021 4:52 pm

The 1500 sq metres land is in my name and it has R15 zoning. I have plans to split it into two and put the second piece on my wife's name. I think, them i will be able to get OBs approvals for both of us. I have been through BCA's requirements, they say that a commercial building of less than 500 sq meters can be build by an OB in WA. I was considering building a childcare (class 3A building) on one and a house on the other with steel framing. Still in the process of getting more info

Rafay · Jan 03, 2021 5:12 pm

It will be on 2 separate lots, separate properties

Rafay · Jan 03, 2021 5:13 pm

Yes, they will be on separate properties