Security of payment in the ACT
The Territory’s scheme is the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009. ACT Planning’s security of payments page explains the claim and adjudication process for people working under construction contracts.
Licensing and registration
Construction occupations are licensed under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004. ACT Planning’s list covers builders, electricians, plumbers and drainers, gasfitters, building surveyors, building assessors, works assessors and plumbing plan certifiers. Building designers are not on that list. Architects are registered separately under the Architects Act 2004.
Planning and building approval
The ACT’s new planning system under the Planning Act 2023 commenced on 27 November 2023, and the Territory Plan sets out the zones and policies. ACT Planning notes that where a development approval is needed it comes before building approval, and that building approval is given by a licensed building surveyor (certifier). Architects, building designers and engineers commonly prepare the plans.
That DA-then-BA order is a natural place to split a fee proposal: one stage that ends at development approval, another that ends at building approval.
Example: a Canberra knock-down rebuild
- Stage 1: DA design and documentation (building designer)
- A$4,620
- Stage 2: structural engineering (engineer)
- A$2,860
- Stage 2: energy efficiency rating (energy assessor)
- A$770
- Stage 3: BA drawings for the certifier (building designer)
- A$2,420
- Client pays per stage
- A$10,670 total
Illustrative only. The certifier’s own fees are usually contracted directly. DrafterShare would split each stage to the people on it (planned).
Using DrafterShare in the ACT
This page is general information drawn from the official sources listed below, not legal advice. Check the current law, and get advice on your own contract.
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Questions
Are building designers licensed in the ACT?
They aren’t on ACT Planning’s list of licensed construction occupations. Architects are registered under the Architects Act 2004.
Which comes first in Canberra, DA or BA?
ACT Planning says development approval, where needed, comes before building approval from a licensed certifier.
Sources
Official pages we relied on, checked 27 October 2026. Laws change; always read the current version.
- Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT) (opens in a new tab) · ACT Legislation Register
- Construction licences (opens in a new tab) · ACT Planning
- The Territory Plan (opens in a new tab) · ACT Planning
- Building approvals (opens in a new tab) · ACT Planning