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Dwellix

Bathroom and ensuite renovations in Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo

Dwellix renovates bathrooms and ensuites in Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo. In Victoria, wet-area waterproofing must meet the National Construction Code, plumbing and electrical work needs licensed trades and certificates, and a non-structural renovation may not need a building permit if every exemption condition is met. Here is how each rule works.

Key facts

  • Building permit: a non-structural bathroom renovation may not need one, but only if every Schedule 3 condition is met. (Building Regulations 2018)
  • Asbestos: in homes built before 1990, wet-area walls and ceilings may contain asbestos. (WorkSafe Victoria; Victorian Government)
  • Home Warranty: may apply to eligible work valued at more than $20,000 under contracts signed from 1 July 2026, subject to eligibility, limits and exclusions. (BPC)

Sources: Building Regulations 2018; Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC); WorkSafe Victoria; Victorian Government. All checked 8 October 2026.

Do I need a building permit to renovate my bathroom?

Not necessarily. A non-structural bathroom renovation may not need a building permit under Schedule 3 of the Building Regulations 2018, if every condition is met:

  • no adverse effect on structural soundness or safety;
  • no change to floor area or height;
  • no footing or underpinning work;
  • no removing or altering of elements that support other parts of the building;
  • nothing projecting beyond the street alignment;
  • no effect on essential safety measures; and
  • the building isn’t on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Your building surveyor confirms whether your bathroom qualifies. Moving walls, for example to enlarge the room or add an ensuite, can change the answer, and removing a load-bearing wall needs a building permit and a registered builder. See building permits for renovations.

If your project needs a building permit, we handle the permit process for you. You formally appoint the building surveyor, and we can recommend one and manage everything with them.

Sources: Building Regulations 2018; BPC; Consumer Affairs Victoria. All checked 8 October 2026.

What waterproofing standard applies in Victoria?

Wet-area waterproofing must meet the National Construction Code; your building surveyor and builder confirm what applies to your bathroom.

Source: BPC, checked 8 October 2026.

Who issues the plumbing and electrical certificates?

Licensed trades. Plumbing, gas and electrical work is done by licensed tradespeople, who provide compliance certificates.

Sources: BPC; Energy Safe Victoria. Both checked 8 October 2026.

Could your bathroom contain asbestos?

Homes built before 1990 may contain asbestos. The Victorian Government’s asbestos website lists ceilings, above all in wet areas, among the places asbestos cement was used in pre-1990 houses, and WorkSafe Victoria lists walls and vinyl flooring among common locations. Only testing by an accredited laboratory confirms asbestos.

We engage licensed asbestos removalists where required.

Sources: Victorian Government (asbestos.vic.gov.au); WorkSafe Victoria. Both checked 8 October 2026.

What are the rules for renovating an apartment bathroom?

Tell your owners corporation and check its rules before you renovate an apartment. For CBD apartments, see Melbourne CBD.

Source: Consumer Affairs Victoria, checked 8 October 2026.

What does a rental bathroom need?

A washbasin and a shower or bath with hot and cold water. Shower heads need a 3-star water efficiency rating, or 1–2 star where 3-star can’t be installed. The bathroom needs adequate ventilation that meets the Building Code of Australia. See investment property renovations.

Source: Consumer Affairs Victoria, checked 8 October 2026.

Ensuites as part of a larger renovation

Adding or rebuilding an ensuite usually affects the rooms around it, so plan it with the wider renovation.

  • Walls. Taking space from a bedroom or hallway means moving walls; if one is load-bearing, the work needs a building permit and a registered builder.
  • Floor area. If the ensuite adds floor area, the Schedule 3 exemption no longer applies.

See full home renovations and wall removal.

How a Dwellix renovation runs

  1. Initial enquiry and consultation.
  2. Site inspection and assessment.
  3. Detailed scope preparation.
  4. Quotation and client approval.
  5. Contracts, approvals and permits where required. Work worth more than $10,000 needs a written major domestic building contract.
  6. Trade scheduling and procurement.
  7. Construction and project supervision. Waterproofing is done to National Construction Code requirements, checked by your building surveyor where a permit applies, and licensed plumbers and electricians do the regulated work and issue the certificates.
  8. Relevant inspections and quality checks.
  9. Practical completion and handover. You receive the keys, the compliance certificates for any plumbing and electrical work, the certificate of final inspection where the work has a building permit, and the manufacturer warranties and manuals for what we install.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a building permit to renovate my bathroom?

Not necessarily. A non-structural bathroom renovation may not need a building permit if it meets every Schedule 3 condition, such as no change to floor area or height and the building not being on the Victorian Heritage Register, and your building surveyor confirms. Moving walls can change the answer.

What are the bathroom renovation laws in Victoria?

The main ones: most domestic building work worth more than $10,000 needs a registered builder and a written major domestic building contract; a building permit is needed unless the work is exempt; wet-area waterproofing must meet the National Construction Code; and plumbing, gas and electrical work is done by licensed tradespeople, who provide compliance certificates.

Can I renovate a bathroom in a Melbourne CBD apartment?

Yes. Tell your owners corporation and check its rules before you renovate an apartment.

Start your bathroom renovation

We are registered with the BPC: CDB-U 102264. Enquire about your bathroom or ensuite, or email sales@dwellix.com.au.

General information only, checked 8 October 2026. Rules change; confirm requirements for your property with your building surveyor or council.