In Western Australia, dilapidation reports are not universally mandated by a single piece of legislation. However, local councils across Perth frequently impose them as conditions of development approval, particularly for projects involving excavation deeper than one metre, demolition of existing structures, or construction within close proximity to neighbouring buildings.
The Building Act 2011 (WA) and the Building Regulations 2012 provide the overarching framework, while individual local government planning schemes add specific requirements. The City of Perth, City of Subiaco, and City of South Perth are among those that routinely require pre-construction condition surveys.
Beyond council conditions, the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA) and common law negligence principles give property owners recourse if construction damage occurs. A properly prepared dilapidation report strengthens these claims by providing objective, time-stamped evidence of the property's condition before works commenced.