Permits, notifications and service disconnections before demolition day
Before any demolition equipment arrives, a compliant Australian demolition project works through a sequence of licences, notifications and service arrangements — and unlike a lot of home improvement paperwork, a meaningful amount of this genuinely differs from one state or territory to the next rather than following one national rulebook.
Demolition licensing itself is a clear example. In New South Wales, SafeWork NSW operates a two-tier system: an unrestricted demolition licence is required for structures over 15 metres high and other high-risk demolition work, while a restricted licence covers structures between 6 and 15 metres where the work affects load-bearing capacity; no demolition licence is generically required under 6 metres, though separate council development approval or a complying development certificate is still commonly needed regardless of licence status. In Queensland, a person conducting a business or undertaking that carries out demolition work must hold a demolition work licence, applied for using Form 76 through the state's WHS regulator, valid for 2 years. Western Australia runs a different structure again — Class 1 and Class 2 demolition licences, valid for 3 years, issued under the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011, with a separate council demolition permit also required, and the WorkSafe Commissioner must be notified at least 5 working days before Class 1 or Class 2 work begins. Victoria's demolition regulation sits within its own Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 framework rather than the harmonised model WHS laws most other states use, administered by WorkSafe Victoria. Given these genuine differences, checking directly with the regulator and council in the specific state a project is happening in is a far more reliable approach than assuming a rule that applies in one state applies everywhere.
Council approval is generally a separate requirement from the state demolition licence, not a substitute for it. Most demolition projects need some form of local council development or building approval alongside whatever state licence applies to the work, and a contractor holding the correct state demolition licence does not automatically mean council approval has also been arranged — this is worth confirming explicitly rather than assumed to be bundled together.
Where licensed asbestos removal is involved, a further, separate notification requirement applies on top of the demolition licence and council approval. A licensed removalist has to give the relevant state regulator written notice before starting, and how much notice varies: in New South Wales, SafeWork NSW requires at least 5 calendar days' written notice; in Victoria, the standard period is also around 5 days, with a shorter 24-hour notice available specifically for smaller jobs involving 10 square metres or less of non-friable material. These periods and thresholds are genuinely state-specific, so confirming the current requirement with the regulator handling your project is worthwhile rather than relying on a figure from a different state.
Service disconnection is the final piece that typically has to be arranged before demolition day. Electricity needs to be permanently disconnected before demolition begins, and gas is capped and disconnected by the gas network provider — both are commonly described as needing to be requested some weeks ahead of the planned start date. Water is treated differently: it is commonly kept connected, capped at the mains, since site water is often needed during the works themselves. Because of privacy requirements, a disconnection request generally has to come from the account holder, though many demolition companies will either arrange this directly on a client's behalf or advise exactly what needs to be submitted and when, which is worth clarifying with your contractor early rather than late in the project timeline.
Given how much of this genuinely varies by state, territory and even local council, the most reliable approach for a specific project is to confirm current licensing, approval and notification requirements directly with the relevant WHS regulator and council, and to work with a demolition contractor experienced in coordinating this sequence rather than treating it as an afterthought once a knock-down date is already set. This article is general information, not legal advice, and requirements can change. Our directory lists licensed Australian demolition contractors by area if you are ready to compare your options.
Frequently asked questions
No. NSW uses a two-tier restricted/unrestricted licence system based on structure height, Queensland requires a demolition work licence via Form 76, and Western Australia uses Class 1 and Class 2 licences with a separate council permit. Victoria regulates demolition under its own OHS Act 2004 rather than the model WHS laws most other states use.
Generally yes — a state demolition licence and local council development or building approval are typically separate requirements, and holding one does not automatically mean the other has been arranged.
This varies by state: in NSW, SafeWork NSW requires at least 5 calendar days’ written notice; in Victoria, the standard period is also around 5 days, though a shorter 24-hour notice applies for smaller jobs involving 10 square metres or less of non-friable material.
Electricity is permanently disconnected and gas is capped and disconnected by the network provider before demolition, both commonly requiring some weeks’ lead time to arrange. Water is generally kept connected, capped at the mains, since it is often needed on site during the works.