Complying Development Certificates
A Complying Development Certificate (CDC) is the fastest way to secure building approval in NSW. We’ll help you work out if it’s right for your project and get it sorted for you.
We’ve got your Complying Development Certificate sorted.
In NSW, most building work needs approval before you can kick off, either a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) or a Construction Certificate (CC) after development consent from Council.
A CDC is a combined planning and construction approval, designed to fast-track straightforward projects that meet a set of pre-determined standards. This covers things like building height, setbacks, gross floor area, site coverage, and site constraints. If your project complies, it can skip the full Development Application (DA) process, making approval much faster.
Not sure if your project qualifies? Send us your plans, and we will go from there.
[ Our approach ]
How we get you building sooner.
01
Getting StartedWhat we need
To get started on your quote, we just need a copy of your plans. It also helps if you can provide any property details you have, like a Title Search and/or Section 10.7 Planning Certificate.
Quote & Go
We will review your plans, provide a quote, and once accepted, we’ll get the process underway.
How do I know what supporting documentation to provide?
Before we can proceed with lodgement, we’ll need at least the following:
- Buildcert application form
- Architectural plans
- Section 10.7
- Title Search / Section 88b (if applicable) / Deposited Plan
Our team will confirm exactly what’s required for your project. If you don’t have a Section 10.7 or Title Search handy, we can source it for you or point you in the right direction. You can also visit our Application Forms & Checklists for extra guidance.
02
Lodgement & Assessment03
Approval & Next Steps
[ Why choose Buildcert ]
Certification sorted.
For projects big or small, Buildcert gets your certification sorted. Trusted experience, clear communication and fast turnarounds mean you get less stress, more certainty, and support to keep your project moving.
- +47000Approvals issued.That's over 47,000 approvals, sorted.
- 15.6B$Total value of construction approved.$15.6B of construction approved and counting.
- +275000Inspections completed.Clients trust Buildcert because we’ve got the experience and know-how to get your certification sorted.
"The Buildcert team are approachable, knowledgeable and always willing to tailor their advice to suit each project. Their friendly, practical approach makes the certification process straightforward for our customers and team."
"Buildcert’s building compliance expertise was invaluable during our recent upgrades. Their team brought confidence, clarity and professionalism to a complex project, ensuring everything stayed compliant and on track from start to finish."
"Buildcert has been a reliable partner for years. Their proactive approach, local knowledge, and responsiveness take the stress out of certification for our team."
"Buildcert are a valuable partner for our team. Their practical guidance, collaborative approach and clear advice help us deliver bespoke designs that meet compliance without compromising creativity."
Ready to get your certification sorted?
Toolbox
Frequently asked questions.
Got questions about Complying Development? We've put together answers to the most common ones.
What is a Complying Development Certificate?
A Complying Development Certificate (CDC) is a type of building approval that lets you skip the full council DA process; but only if your project meets a set of pre-determined planning and building rules set by the NSW Government.
It covers many common builds like new homes, dual occupancies, townhouses, extensions, granny flats, pools, and commercial and industrial buildings. If your plans tick all the boxes, the approval process is much quicker and handled entirely through a private certifier.
We’ll review your plans, determine CDC permissibility, and manage the approval from start to finish, with no back and forth with Council.