Is it regulated? Find out before you sign.
What the NSW Design & Building Practitioners Act actually means for your building's remedial works — from a Class 2 DBP registered builder who lodges these declarations every week.
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If your building is Class 2 and the work is structural, waterproofing, fire or envelope — the DBP Act applies, and has since 1 July 2021.
From 1 July 2026 the same rules extend to remedial work on Class 3 and 9c, plus mandatory PI insurance for practitioners.
Use an unregistered contractor and the work can't be lodged or certified — the owners corporation carries the risk.
Get it wrong. Pay twice.
The DBP Act isn't paperwork for its own sake. Use an unregistered contractor and the work can't be lodged or certified — leaving the owners corporation exposed if a defect emerges. Registered, PI-insured practitioners are fewer, so lead times are longer. And from 1 July 2026 the Act covers Class 3 & 9c — works scoped now but starting after must already comply.
The OC carries the risk
Use an unregistered contractor and the work can't be lodged or certified — leaving the owners corporation exposed if a defect emerges years later, with weaker legal recourse.
The contractor pool shrinks
Registered, PI-insured practitioners are fewer. Qualified contractors mean longer lead times — so procurement needs to start earlier, not later.
The deadline is real
From 1 July 2026 the Act covers Class 3 & 9c. Works scoped now but starting after that date must already comply from day one.
Does the DBP Act apply to your works?
If your building is Class 2 (residential apartments, 3+ storeys) and the work is structural, waterproofing, fire-safety or building-envelope, the DBP Act applies. The work must be done by a registered building practitioner, regulated designs lodged on the NSW Planning Portal, and a compliance declaration provided on completion. From 1 July 2026 the same rules extend to remedial work on Class 3 (boarding houses, student accommodation, hotels) and Class 9c (aged care).
"We lodge these declarations on the NSW Planning Portal every week."
— CLASS 2 DBP REGISTERED · LICENCE 360636C
What counts as regulated work?
The Act defines building work broadly. For remedial projects, the regulated work typically includes:
• Structural concrete repairs — spalling, cracking, concrete cancer
• Waterproofing systems — balconies, podiums, basements, wet areas
• Facade remediation and cladding replacement
• Fire-safety upgrades — passive fire, compartmentation, penetration sealing
• Anything affecting the structural integrity or weatherproofing of the building envelope
The line that catches committees: minor cosmetic maintenance (painting, fixture replacement) is generally exempt — but if the work is structural, waterproofing, or fire-related, assume it's regulated until a registered practitioner confirms otherwise.
Why it changes how you procure
Before the DBP Act, an owners corporation could simply take the cheapest quote. Now the builder must be registered, the designer must be registered, and regulated designs must be lodged on the NSW Planning Portal before the relevant work starts — creating a permanent, auditable record that protects the OC if a defect emerges years later. Separately, NSW strata rules require at least two independent quotes for any spend over $30,000 — so compliant procurement and competitive quoting now go hand in hand.
How Atomic Projects handles it
We're a Class 2 DBP registered remedial building contractor (Licence 360636C) carrying current PI insurance. Regulated designs and compliance declarations are lodged through the NSW Planning Portal — so your committee gets the full paper trail for its records and any future claim.
We'd rather you verify us than take our word for it. Our licence is on the NSW Fair Trading register — check it before you call.
Registered, insured, lodged — on every job.
We're a Class 2 DBP registered remedial building contractor (Licence 360636C) carrying current PI insurance. Regulated designs and compliance declarations are lodged through the NSW Planning Portal — so your committee gets the full paper trail.
We'd rather you check than take our word for it.
What changed. And when.
Which class are you?
Related compliance guides.
Plain-English guides on the DBP changes and what they mean for your building — written for committees and managers, not lawyers.
Compliance & DBP Act
DBP Act July 2026: What Changes for Class 3 and 9c Buildings on Day One
Exactly what comes under the Act from 1 July 2026 — and what to have ready.
Compliance & Regulation
DBP Act July 2026 Deadline: Your 5-Week Compliance Checklist
A week-by-week run sheet for Class 3 and 9c buildings approaching the deadline.
Guides
How to Choose a DBP-Registered Remedial Contractor for Class 3 and 9c
What to check before you engage anyone for regulated remedial work.
Compliance & Regulation
How to Get Accurate Quotes Under NSW's New $30K Rule
How the two-quote threshold works and how to compare quotes properly.
What your committee will want to know.
Does the DBP Act apply to all remedial work on Class 3 & 9c buildings?+
What happens if we use an unregistered contractor after July 2026?+
Do existing contracts need to be renegotiated?+
Where can I check if a builder is registered?+
Is decennial liability insurance (DLI) mandatory yet?+
Not sure if your works are regulated?
Send photos, the engineer's report, or just describe what's planned. A Class 2 DBP registered builder tells you straight whether the DBP Act applies — no quote required, no obligation. We respond within 1 business day.