How do I obtain the necessary permits and approvals for my NSW development project?
The building permit and approval process is one of the most daunting parts of developing properties in NSW. Discover everything you need to know to streamline that process.
There’s a lot of difficulty and confusion that comes with pre-development preparations. And obtaining the needed permits and approvals for a development project in NSW is a bureaucratic and painful process.
The sheer volume of documents you need to prepare and submit could be quite dizzying. Equally bothersome are the fees and the wait times you have to endure before finally getting approval for your project.
And yet, the headache and expenses you’ll suffer from skipping any part of this process are bound to be much worse. It’s better to just put in the work and due diligence.
The good news is that you don’t have to figure any of this out by yourself. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of all the necessary permits and approvals you need to secure. This way, you can start a development project in NSW without any problems.
Permits and Approvals for Residential Developments in NSW
The first thing you need to know is that different types of developments require different permits and approvals. So, here are the documents you need for a residential development project in NSW:
1 – Development Application (DA)
You need to lodge a DA through the NSW Planning Portal to kick off your proposed development. And to support your application, you have to submit several documents, including the following:
- Statement of environmental effects
- Owner’s consent
- Cost estimate report
The good news is that you could submit all these, including your DA, online. However, you might have to pay service fees for the use of the NSW Planning Portal.
2 – Construction Certificate (CC)
This document confirms that your development plan is compliant with the Building Code, as well as other council requirements.
Like the DA, you have to upload various documents to the NSW Planning Portal, including:
- Approved development consent from your local council
- Detailed building plans consistent with the requirements of your development consent
- Proof of payment, which is at $40 as of writing time.
3 – Occupation Certificate (OC)
If you want to occupy or use a new building, or otherwise change the use of an existing building in NSW, you’ll need an OC.
Although issued by your local council or private certifier, you may apply for one online via the NSW Planning Portal. You just need to submit any documentation that’s requested by the council for your OC, which could include:
- Construction certificate
- Fire safety certificate
- Complying development certificate
4 – Complying Development Certificate (CDC)
What if your council requires a CDC for your occupation certificate application, but you don’t have one yet?
All you have to do is use the same NSW Planning Portal to apply for a CDC. Otherwise, check if your project could qualify for the CDC exemption. This exemption is usually afforded to small home improvement projects that do not require planning or building approval.
5 – Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Assessment
Finally, you have to obtain a BAL Certificate from your council or any bushfire risk assessor that’s recognised by the NSW Rural Fire Service as a suitably qualified consultant.
As this could be quite a lengthy and highly technical process, you may refer to the NSW Rural Fire Service website to get started.
Permits and Approvals for Commercial and Industrial Developments in NSW
You’re already familiar with the first three documents you have to secure for commercial and industrial projects in NSW. After all, they are similar to the ones listed above for residential projects.
Again, you may use the NSW Planning Portal to secure all of the following:
- Development Application (DA)
- Construction Certificate (CC)
- Occupation Certificate (OC)
In addition to these three, there are two more documents you may have to obtain before moving forward with your development.
1 – Planning Proposal
In a nutshell, a planning proposal is a certification showing that you are permitted to amend the Local Environmental Plan through your development project. It may be a request to alter the use of any land in NSW through rezoning or to amend development standards, such as building height, floor space ratio, heritage, and others.
2 – Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Approval
Any work done in NSW that may result in water pollution requires approval from the local EPA. Additionally, there exists the POEO Act that contains a list of all activities that require the same licence.
To be sure, It is best to check the full list to see if your planned development is covered by the activities that need EPA approval.
Make the Process Easier With Archistar
What complicates the permit and approval process for development projects in NSW is that some documents may be required on a case-to-case basis. As such, there’s a tonne of leg work waiting for you just so you can find out which documents you need to obtain and apply for.
Fortunately, platforms like Archistar could help streamline this entire process.
This platform can help you put together a detailed site analysis and any other document you would need to secure all the permits you need for your development project to be approved. Try it out for free today through this link.
