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 & AssessmentWhat is it
We prepare and lodge your CDC application in the NSW Planning Portal, keeping you updated on the progress of the application. Our certifiers will assess your provided project documentation and carry out a site visit.
What we check
We’ll check planning rules, zoning, site constraints, and design compliance.
Next steps
Once your project has been assessed, if more details are needed, your certifier will send a Request for Information (RFI) explaining exactly what to provide. If any adjustments to plans are required, we will talk you through that too.
03
Approval & Next StepsApproval Time!
Once you’ve provided the RFI items, we’ll get your application approved and issue your CDC.
Next steps
We’ll flag any pre-construction steps (like Owner Builder Permits or Home Building Compensation Fund if needed), and once you’ve ticked the boxes, we’ll issue a Notice of Commencement. From there, it’s just a 48-hour wait, and you’re good to start construction. As the Principal Certifier, we will conduct mandatory inspections throughout the build.
[ 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.
What’s the difference between a Construction Certificate and a Complying Development Certificate; and which one do I need?
Both are types of building approval, but they apply in different situations:
- Complying Development Certificate (CDC): This is a fast-tracked approval that combines both planning and building approval in one. If your project meets specific rules under the State’s Housing Code (like height limits, setbacks and site coverage), you can skip council and get approved by a private certifier, often much faster.
- Construction Certificate (CC): This is used when your project has already been through the full Development Application (DA) process with council. A DA gives planning approval, and the CC is the building approval that follows. You’ll need both before work can start.
Why do Complying Development Certificates (CDCs) applications need architectural plans?
Even though CDCs are a streamlined approval path, they still need a complete set of architecturally drafted plans, like site layouts, elevations, sections, and construction details, to prove your project meets NSW’s planning and building codes.
What documentation is needed for a certification quote?
To do a quote for a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) we just need your site plans that include front, side and rear setbacks as well as elevations (if you have any supporting property documents like a Title Search send that through as well). For a Construction Certificate (CC), all we’ll need is your development consent from Council and your Development Application (DA) stamped plans.
What is the Building Approval process?
The process depends on your project, but here’s the big picture:
You’ll either need a Development Application (DA) followed by a Construction Certificate (CC), or, if your project meets specific criteria, you may be eligible for a faster approval via a Complying Development Certificate (CDC). We’ll help you figure out the right path based on your plans, site, and local planning rules.
Once the approval is in place and the project is underway the Principal Certifier (PC) (that’s us) will undertake mandatory inspections during key stages of construction. These checks are required by law and help make sure your build stays compliant, safe, and on track.
When the work’s complete and everything’s been signed off, we will issue the Occupation Certificate (OC); the final tick that confirms the building is safe, compliant, and ready to use.
What is a Preliminary Complying Development Certificate (CDC) Assessment?
If your project has something that is a little bit left of field, this is an optional extra step we can do before formal lodgement to give you more clarity on whether your project is likely to qualify for a CDC by identifying any non-compliances.