Has anyone here gone through the process recently?

Hey, I’ve actually been through it about a year ago when I put an extra studio out the back of my place, so I feel your pain. The tricky bit is that you really have to make sure you understand what’s considered "domestic building work" under the rules, because things like extensions, garages, and even certain outbuildings fall under it, while small maintenance tasks don’t. You’re right about the certificate: you apply for the Owner Builder Certificate of Consent through the VBA before you even lodge for a building permit, and it’s only valid for that single project. I remember being caught off guard by how detailed the documents needed to be – they wanted proof of title, cost estimates, even evidence of insurance. What saved me was checking a resource I found at https://obavic.com.au/, because they break down the process step by step, and it made it less overwhelming. The one-in-five-years rule is strict though, and it’s there to stop people acting like builders without a license, but it does feel limiting if you own more than one property. If you’re planning your first, my advice is to get everything clarified with your surveyor before moving forward, because once the application is lodged, fixing mistakes costs you time and money.