Is my project eligible?
To be eligible for Green Star assessment, projects must meet all provisions of the Green Star Eligibility criteria as detailed below.
Fitouts constructed in the majority of building types are eligible to be rated, including mixed use developments.
Fitouts in all National Construction Code (NCC) space use definitions are eligible for certification apart from single dwellings (NCC Class 1), standalone carparks (NCC Class 7a) and uninhabited structures (NCC Class 10).
Green Star Fitouts is intended to rate new fitouts and fitouts undergoing major refurbishment.
- New fitouts are those where are a fitout is installed in either a new building (where there is no pre-existing fitout) or a fitout is being delivered for a whole new tenancy within an existing building.
- Major refurbishments are those where an existing tenant, property owner or manager is undertaking major internal upgrades of their existing premises. Please note that minor refurbishments and cold shell projects are generally not eligible for certification.
If clarification is needed on how a specific type of building fitout can fit within this rating tool, project teams are encouraged to contact the Market Engagement team at the GBCA or submit an Eligibility Query via the Green Star Manager on the GBCA website.
To meet the Distinct Boundary eligibility requirement and to provide a meaningful result and send a clear message to the market, the project must be clearly distinct and separate. Only distinct projects are eligible for assessment; project components are not eligible.
The project boundary should reflect the contractor’s full scope of works without exclusion of any areas. Where the fitout is extended across multiple floors, all floors are to be included within the scope of the rating. In the event the fitout seeking a rating has non-contiguous areas, the project team should submit an Eligibility Query to the GBCA to discuss eligibility prior to registration.
Shared building services (such as HVAC plant or water treatment) or amenities (such as waste rooms or bicycle facilities) do not affect the project’s eligibility for Green Star assessment.
Subtenancies are considered part of the fitout and cannot be excluded from the rating.
Projects can register for certification at any time prior to practical completion. Projects can register after practical completion, though applicants should note the deadline below.
All projects registered for Green Star Fitouts must achieve a Certified rating within two years from practical completion of the project. The Certified rating is awarded after practical completion. Registered projects have the option of undergoing a Designed assessment as an interim step towards certification. The Designed assessment must be done prior to practical completion.
A project seeking certification must meet the Minimum Expectations set out in the Green Star Fitouts rating tool. The Minimum Expectations are a list of credit criteria that are mandatory for the fitout to be certified. There are also additional mandatory Climate Positive Pathway credit criteria for 5 and 6 Star rated projects. These are listed under the Minimum Expectations section in the Green Star Fitouts Submission Guidelines.
The project must achieve the Minimum Expectations for a 4 Star rating. Refer to The Green Star Fitouts rating scale for more information.
Registering for Green Star Fitouts
To obtain a Green Star rating, the project must first be registered with the GBCA. Registration involves providing us with key project details, agreeing to the Certification Agreement online, and paying the Certification Fee.
Registration is an online process completed using the Green Star Manager. To register a project, login to your GBCA dashboard (Hub), then go to the Green Star Manager and select “Register a new project” to start your application. For assistance with registration contact a member of the Market Engagement team.
What certification pathways can I use?
Green Star Fitouts projects may use the Standard or the Volume certification pathway.
Standard certification pathway
A single fitout is registered and submitted individually. Most projects use this certification pathway.
Volume pathway
A program which makes it simpler for a fitout to achieve a Green Star rating, where it forms part of a portfolio of Green Star registrations by the same applicant company.
Applicants and project teams interested in applying for volume certification should contact the Market Engagement team to discuss suitability.
Please note that registrations for volume certification will only be accepted where the applicant has an approved volume program in place.
What are the certification fees?
The certification fee for Green Star Fitouts is based on the project’s contract value. Fees excl. GST.
The below certification fees are valid until 31 October 2026.
GBCA member
$9,700
$13,200
$15,600
$17,900
$21,500
$23,800
$27,300
$32,000
$36,200
$40,500
$44,600
$48,900
$53,000
Non member
$14,800
$18,300
$20,700
$23,000
$26,600
$28,900
$32,400
$37,100
$41,300
$45,600
$49,700
$54,000
$58,100
- Support from a dedicated Technical Coordinator assigned to your project.
- Other assistance such as an early ‘on boarding’ workshop to introduce project teams to the process, on request.
- Five free Technical Questions.
- Designed Assessment (or Design Review under the Legacy tools) as an optional interim step towards certification (for the relevant rating tools only, not applicable to Green Star Communities v1 or Green Star Performance).
- License to use the certification trade mark once certified, to promote your project.
- A digital decal recognising the Green Star certification for use in your building, precinct or fit-out for ratings 4 star and over.
Interaction with the Green Star Assessor and GBCA, which can be organised by the Technical Coordinator on request.
- Potential eligibility for Volume Certification (for Green Star Buildings, and Interiors ratings) and Portfolio Certification (for Green Star Performance ratings).
- A discounted certification fee (Member rate).
To become a member you need to register your organisation (which includes a membership fee).
- Technical question (formerly known as CIR and Technical Clarification) – $220 per query
- Pre-Assessment Review (PAR) (Optional paid service. Opt-in at time of submission) – $220 per round of submissoin
- Credit-by-Credit Assessment – Ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 per credit, depending on credit being reviewed.
Fees exclude GST.
- Prices shown are excluding GST. Be sure to add GST.
- Fees are subject to change without notice and are reviewed at least once every financial year.
- Once a project is registered there is a no-refund policy.
- Assessments will not be scheduled until payments for all project invoices have been received.
- Items you receive as part of your certification fee are not transferable, exchangeable or refundable. All items are valid while the project is registered. Once a project is certified any unused items are forfeited.
The project contract value is defined as the dollar value required to complete the works for the entire project, including site works. The following may be excluded when determining total contract value:
- demolition works.
- consultants, design fees, project management fees.
- works outside the site area.
- buildings or areas within the site that are not being assessed for purposes of Green Star.
Where a number of amenities or services are shared between stages in a larger development, GBCA expects that the cost apportioned to the rated stage is equivalent to the use that the stage will have of these facilities.
Assessment and certification
Green Star certification is a formal process managed by Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), during which a building, fitout, or precinct is awarded a rating by an independent, third party assessor. It is a document based assessment, undertaken online.
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