NSW Building Approvals

17 December 2021

NSW Building Approvals 101

IN BRIEF


  • Two approvals are required for building a commercial structure: a Development Approval (DA) and a Construction Certificate (CC).

  • The DA is a high-level approval focusing on compliance with Council schemes, zoning requirements, and overlays, while the CC delves into fine details and ensures compliance with the Building Code.

  • It’s also worth considering if a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) is applicable, which can streamline the process and remove some complexity.

  • The time frames for obtaining DA and CC can vary, with Level 1 approvals taking anywhere from 1 month to a year, and Level 2 approvals taking 1 to 4 months, depending on several factors including the Council’s workload.

Everything You Need to Know About Getting a DA & a CC for Your Commercial Structure

When you’re considering building a commercial structure, it helps to have a good handle on the different types of permits and approvals required before you get too far into the process.


In New South Wales, there are two approvals you need to have in place: your DA (development approval) and your CC (construction certificate).


These differ in that the first – the DA – is more of an early-stage, high-level approval. It focuses primarily on whether your structure complies with various Council schemes, zoning requirements and overlays.


The second approval – your construction certificate – goes into much more fine detail and ensures that everything in your commercial structure complies with the Building Code. Here, Shane Barker takes us through the different levels of building approvals, how long they take to get, and what you need to prepare for each one.

Before You Start: will a CDC Suffice?

It’s worth taking a step back and getting advice to see if you need to go through this process at all.


For a lot of straightforward commercial building projects, you can avoid the drawn-out Council approval process by applying for a CDC, or complying development certificate.


This ‘all in one’ certificate is available through a private certifier and could save you a lot of unnecessary headaches.


At Steelcorp, we always explore whether this is an option for our clients by speaking to a private certifier at the start of the project. The certifier advises whether a CDC can be done for the project, and if not, we have to contact the Council and begin the following process.

What You Need to Prepare for a Development Approval

Your DA can be seen as the ‘Level 1’ approval: you’ll only require some fairly standard documentation to submit to your local Council. The documentation you’ll need includes:


  • Your site plan
  • Elevations
  • Title documents
  • Covenants (if any apply to your land)
  • Reports
  • Compliance with various Council schemes, zoning requirements and overlays
  • Proof that traffic flows and car park requirements are met
  • Drainage and retention information to show your project won’t adversely impact Council assets
  • And the application form itself.

How Long Does it Take to Get a DA?

Shane notes that every project is different, but as a rough guide “your Level 1 approvals will typically take anywhere from 1 month up to a year from the time you submit your application to the actual approval coming back from Council. This is assuming that no changes need to be made.”


Find out more about estimated time frames here. 

What You Need to Prepare for a Construction Certificate


Once you have your development approval squared away, you can go deeper into the process and apply for your Construction Certificate.


“This ‘Level 2’ approval covers all the engineering and structural plans, as well as the detailed building plans – this is what your builder will work from. You’ll need to have this in place before you start any building or construction work,” says Shane.


This certificate confirms that the construction plans and development specifications are consistent with the development consent, and comply with the Building Code of Australia and any other council requirements. Your local council or an accredited certifier working in the private sector can issue a construction certificate for you.


To get a CC in NSW, you’ll need to supply documentation including:


  • Your approved DA documentation
  • Engineering plans
  • Civil, structural and hydraulic plans
  • A septic permit
  • Your energy rating (or Section J) report
  • Soil report
  • Title documents
  • Details of any covenants on your property
  • Compliant plans drawn up by an architect, meeting all the National Construction Code requirements
  • And finally, the CC application form.


You’ll typically need to supply 3 copies of each for review and pay a development contribution fee to the Council.

How Long Does it Take to Get a CC?

Receiving the official go-ahead can take around 1 – 4 months depending on industry demand and Council workload.


“This part of your project is often the most daunting for our customers. That’s why we offer plenty of help, advice and support during the approvals & permits phase. We partner with you for the whole project – not just the build itself,” adds Shane.

If you need advice on how to best approach your approvals, please get in touch with our team.

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