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Dwellix

Laundry renovations in Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo

Dwellix renovates laundries in Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, from stand-alone laundries to combined bathroom-laundries. In Victoria, a non-structural laundry renovation may not need a building permit, and the waterproofing, plumbing and electrical work is regulated. This page explains what applies, including what a rental laundry needs.

Key facts

  • Building permit: a non-structural laundry renovation may not need one, but only if every Schedule 3 condition is met. (Building Regulations 2018)
  • Rentals: any laundry in a rental property must have hot and cold water. (Consumer Affairs Victoria)
  • Licensed trades: plumbing and electrical work is done by licensed tradespeople, who provide compliance certificates. (BPC; Energy Safe Victoria)

Sources: Building Regulations 2018; Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC); Consumer Affairs Victoria. All checked 8 October 2026.

Do you need a building permit for a laundry renovation?

Not necessarily. A non-structural laundry 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 supporting elements, 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.

Moving walls 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.

How is laundry waterproofing regulated?

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

Source: BPC, checked 8 October 2026.

Who issues the plumbing and electrical certificates?

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

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

Combining the bathroom and laundry

A combined bathroom-laundry can free up floor space in a smaller home. Plan these early:

  • Walls. Merging rooms means removing or moving a wall. If it’s load-bearing, the work needs a building permit and a registered builder.
  • Waterproofing. Plan it for the combined room as one job; your building surveyor and builder confirm what the National Construction Code requires.
  • Ventilation. Moisture from the shower and dryer needs a way out of the room.
  • Layout. Stacked machines, or a laundry cupboard with doors, can keep the bathroom usable on washing days.

See bathroom and ensuite renovations and wall removal.

Could an older laundry contain asbestos?

Homes built before 1990 may contain asbestos, in places such as walls and vinyl flooring. We engage licensed asbestos removalists where required.

Source: WorkSafe Victoria, checked 8 October 2026.

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. For work worth more than $10,000, we set out the scope and price in a written major domestic building contract.
  6. Trade scheduling and procurement.
  7. Construction and project supervision. 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 for a laundry renovation?

Not necessarily. A non-structural laundry renovation may not need a building permit if it meets every Schedule 3 condition, such as no change to floor area or height, and your building surveyor confirms. Moving walls can change the answer. Plumbing and electrical work is regulated either way.

Can I combine my bathroom and laundry?

It’s possible, but check the walls first. If combining the rooms means removing or altering a load-bearing wall, the work needs a building permit and a registered builder, and moving walls can change whether the rest of the renovation needs a permit. Waterproofing, plumbing and electrical work in the combined room are all regulated.

What does a rental laundry need in Victoria?

Under Victoria’s rental minimum standards, any laundry must have hot and cold water, and the laundry needs adequate ventilation that meets the Building Code of Australia. From 25 November 2025, a rental property must meet the minimum standards before it is advertised. See investment property renovations.

Do you renovate laundries in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo?

Yes. We renovate laundries in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo as well as across Melbourne. Send us your address and we’ll confirm whether we can take on your project. The same Victorian rules on building permits, waterproofing and licensed trades apply in each area, but local planning and heritage controls vary by council, so check your council’s requirements too.

Start your laundry renovation

We are registered with the BPC: CDB-U 102264. Enquire about your laundry, 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.