handovermanual.com.au
Building manual referral
For builders of new Class 1b, 2 and 3 buildings in Victoria (S.R. No. 87/2026)
What the rules require
- Building permit application on or after 1 February 2027: a draft building manual is required for a Class 1b, 2 or 3 building, or a building with a Class 2 or 3 part (reg 205B).
- Occupancy permit application (Form 15): the draft manual goes in with it (s 41A, reg 186(2)(b)(iii)). With staged permits, only the final one.
- Approval: the relevant building surveyor approves the draft and gives it back with the occupancy permit (s 41B). Without approval the permit is refused (s 44(c)).
- Within 28 days: attach the occupancy permit to the approved manual (reg 205D).
- Handover: give the approved manual to the owners corporation at its first meeting (s 44A). It is then updated on Form 26 by the 14th day after each approval anniversary (reg 205F).
What Handover Manual does
We collect your project documents, chase the trades for what is missing while their final claims are open, and compile the draft manual indexed to reg 205C, with the reg 205A asset list as a spreadsheet. You receive .pdf and .xlsx files (reg 205G). Book when the building permit issues; we schedule the compile to finish before your Form 15 application.
How to book
Go to handovermanual.com.au/for-building-surveyors/ and send an enquiry with the surveyor's name or firm in the "Referred by" field, or email enquiries@handovermanual.com.au. We reply with an HM- reference number.
Handover Manual collates, indexes and formats documents supplied by project participants. It does not perform building surveying functions or approve manuals. Approval under s 41B of the Building Act 1993 (Vic) rests with the relevant building surveyor. General information, not legal advice.