Do You Need a Dilapidation Report in Perth? When It Is Required

When a Dilapidation Report Is Mandatory in Perth

In Western Australia, there is no single piece of legislation that universally requires a dilapidation report for every construction project. Instead, the requirement is triggered by specific conditions — most commonly attached to a development approval (DA) by your local Perth council. If the condition is on your DA, you must comply before breaking ground.

Here are the most common mandatory triggers across Perth councils:

1. Council Development Approval Conditions

When you lodge a development application with councils such as the City of Perth, City of Stirling, City of Joondalup, or City of Wanneroo, the planning officer may condition approval on a pre-construction dilapidation survey of adjoining properties. This is standard for multi-storey developments, subdivisions, and projects involving bulk earthworks. The report must be completed by a qualified building surveyor or structural engineer and lodged with the council before a building permit is issued.

2. Excavation Depth Thresholds

Projects requiring excavation below the footing level of an adjoining structure almost always trigger a dilapidation requirement. In Perth’s sandy soils — particularly in suburbs like Cottesloe, Scarborough, and Fremantle— even moderate excavation can affect neighbouring foundations. As a rule of thumb, if you are excavating deeper than 1.5 metres within 3 metres of a boundary, expect the council to require a report.

3. Demolition Proximity

Demolishing a structure that shares a party wall, is within 3 metres of an adjoining building, or involves heavy machinery on a constrained site will typically require a dilapidation report. The vibration and ground disturbance from demolition can cause cracking and settlement in neighbouring properties — exactly the kind of damage a pre-construction survey is designed to document.

4. Heritage Overlays and Special Character Areas

Properties within heritage precincts — such as parts of Subiaco, East Fremantle, and Mount Lawley— are subject to additional planning controls. Councils in these areas often require dilapidation reports as a matter of course, regardless of excavation depth or demolition scope, to protect historically significant structures from construction-related damage.

When a Dilapidation Report Is Recommended (But Not Mandatory)

Even when your council has not explicitly required a dilapidation report, commissioning one is often the smartest risk-management decision you can make. The cost of a report is a fraction of what you would spend defending a damage claim.

Renovation Next Door

If your neighbour is undertaking significant renovations — a second-storey addition, pool excavation, or retaining wall construction — consider requesting a dilapidation report on your own property. This gives you a dated, photographic baseline in case cracks or movement appear during or after their works. You do not need their permission to survey your own property.

Minor Works Nearby

Crossover construction, verge upgrades, and small-scale earthworks can occasionally cause unexpected vibration damage, particularly in older Perth suburbs with limestone foundations. A dilapidation report is inexpensive insurance in these scenarios.

Roadworks and Utility Upgrades

Main Roads WA, Water Corporation, and local councils regularly undertake infrastructure projects that involve trenching, piling, and heavy vehicle traffic close to residential and commercial properties. If a major infrastructure project is scheduled near your property, commissioning a dilapidation report before work starts protects your claim if damage occurs.

When You Probably Do Not Need a Dilapidation Report

Not every project warrants the cost. Here are scenarios where a dilapidation report is unlikely to be necessary:

• Minor landscaping — garden beds, reticulation, turf, and planting that involve no excavation below 500 mm.
• Internal renovations — kitchen or bathroom refits, painting, and joinery that do not affect the building envelope or structure.
• Like-for-like roof replacements — re-tiling or re-sheeting with no structural modification.
• Fencing under 1.8 m — standard boundary fencing on established footings.

If in doubt, our free online decision tool can guide you through the key questions in under two minutes.

Quick Decision Table

Use the table below to quickly assess whether your project warrants a dilapidation report:

Still unsure? Try our interactive decision tool for a personalised recommendation based on your exact project details.

What Happens If You Get It Wrong?

Skipping a dilapidation report when one is needed creates two risks. First, if the report is a DA condition and you fail to comply, the council can issue a stop-work order, delaying your project by weeks. Second, if damage occurs to a neighbouring property during construction, you will have no evidence to distinguish pre-existing defects from construction-induced damage.

We have seen Perth homeowners face claims exceeding $50,000 for cracking that was already present before a single excavator rolled onto site. A dilapidation report costing a few hundred dollars would have eliminated the dispute entirely.

Related Resources

• What Is a Dilapidation Report? — a complete overview of purpose, process, and contents.
• Who Pays for a Dilapidation Report? — understand cost responsibility in WA.
• How Much Does a Dilapidation Report Cost in Perth? — pricing breakdown by property type.
• Residential Dilapidation Reports — our residential survey service.