Building Surveyor
What the work is
Reviews, analyses and assesses building plans for compliance to current building standards, and issues relevant legislative permits, certification and approvals.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Assesses and approves building permit applications to ensure compliance with building codes, local ordinances, zoning and contract specifications
- Undertakes, or directs Building Inspectors to undertake, critical stage inspections of buildings under construction to determine if the work complies with the development consent and legislative requirements
- Prepares a written record of building work inspected and documents details identifying non-compliant issues
- Enforces the requirements of building legislation by issuing written directions to fix non-compliant building work, providing building notices, and issuing or removing building orders
- Responds to enquiries or complaints from people affected by their decisions made when carrying out statutory functions
- Issues occupancy permits and certificates of final inspection upon the completion of building work if all requirements are met
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in building sites and offices where plans are checked and costs are tracked. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- You find a problem on paper that would have been very expensive to find on site
- A builder you were wary of ends up asking your advice before they start
- A finished project comes in close to the budget you estimated at the start
Hard days
- A builder you like has made a mistake, and you have to say so
- A client wants costs to come down but the plans have not changed
- A stack of inspections in bad weather with every owner wanting a quick answer
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 241931, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.