Certifying Complying Development for Industrial and Commercial Projects
Fast-track your commercial or industrial development approval pathway with Complying Development from Buildcert.
For developers, builders and architects, navigating planning approvals efficiently is critical to maintaining project timelines and managing costs. One pathway that can support faster project delivery is complying development.
While often associated with residential projects, complying development can also apply to certain industrial and commercial developments in NSW when the proposal meets relevant planning and building standards.
Understanding how this fast-track approval pathway works and engaging a certifier early can help ensure projects move forward smoothly.
A fast-track approval pathway
In NSW, complying development provides a streamlined approval process for development that meets the standards set out in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes).
Instead of lodging a full Development Application (DA approval) with council, eligible projects can obtain a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) from council or an accredited private certifier.
A CDC effectively combines planning approval and a construction certificate into one process. When all documentation is in order and the development complies with the prescribed standards, approval can often be issued within 10-20 days.
However, this pathway relies on strict compliance with planning controls. If the proposal does not meet the required standards, the development will generally need to proceed through the traditional DA approval pathway instead.
When a CDC may apply to industrial and commercial projects
For business and industrial developments, the CDC pathway can apply to a range of works, including:
- Construction of new industrial buildings
- Additions to existing industrial or commercial premises
- Internal alterations or commercial fitouts
- Change of building use
Under the complying development framework, certain industrial buildings and additions may be eligible where development standards are met, for example, new industrial buildings up to around 50,000 m².
These projects must still comply with relevant zoning controls, building height limits, environmental constraints and National Construction Code (NCC) requirements.
Why Early Certification Input Matters
Because complying development is rule-based, even small variations from the standards can affect whether a project remains eligible.
For industrial and commercial developments, factors such as building classification, fire safety requirements, accessibility provisions and servicing infrastructure can influence whether the development meets CDC requirements.
From a building certification perspective, many delays occur when potential compliance issues are identified late in the design process.
Engaging a private certifier, like Buildcert, early allows the project team to review planning controls, NCC requirements and certification considerations before detailed documentation is finalised.
Complying development can provide a valuable fast-track pathway when projects meet the relevant planning and building certification requirements. Early collaboration with a certifier helps ensure compliance considerations are addressed from the outset - supporting a smoother approval process and helping projects move efficiently from design through to construction.