Preliminary Complying Development Assessments
Not every project needs it, but if there’s something a little different in your plans, a Preliminary CDC Assessment is a smart way to get clarity before formal lodgement.
We’ve got your Preliminary Complying Development Assessment sorted.
Not all builds in NSW follow the same approval path. Depending on what you’re planning, you might need council sign-off (Development Consent) + Construction Certificate (CC), or you could take the faster Complying Development route, if you qualify.
A Preliminary Complying Development Assessment is a smart step if there is something a little trickier in your plans. We review your project plans and help you understand if you qualify for a Complying Development Certificate (CDC), or if you’ll need to go through council for approval and get a CC.
Our certifiers carry out the Preliminary CDC Assessment, which will give you clear advice on whether something in your plans needs to be tweaked so you can move ahead without unexpected setbacks.
Buildcert works with commercial builders, volume builders and developers, residential builders, building designers, and home owners across New South Wales, providing the know-how that helps keep projects compliant and on track.
[ Our approach ]
How we get your Preliminary Complying Development Assessment sorted.
01
Understand your project typeWhat it is
Before we get into the details, our certifiers will review your site plans against Complying Development Certificate (CDC) requirements as well as some basic property information.
Why it matters
Not all projects need a full development approval. If your build meets the right rules, it could qualify for a CDC, which means faster approval and less red tape.
A prelim check is useful if there is something a little different in your plans that means it is unclear upfront whether a CDC or CC pathway is right for you.
Projects like new homes, granny flats, dual occupancies, multi-dwellings, pools, and renovations can commonly be a CDC. Simple projects like small decks, fences, or garden sheds often count as exempt development and don’t need approval.
What you gain
A clear signal on whether your project might qualify for CDC, before you get to lodgement, as well as a report that outlines everything you need to know from the assessment.
02
Get you ready for approvalsWho does this
One of our experienced certifiers handles this. They know the codes, legislation and approval requirements back to front, so you can move ahead with confidence.
What we check
We look at zoning, site conditions, the design against the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP), and other CDC criteria. We might request extra documents to get the full picture.
Outcome
We’ll give you a clear answer: Complying Development Certificate or not. If your project qualifies, we’ll move quickly to get it lodged and approved. If not, no worries. We’ll steer you down the right pathway, and if you need approval from Council, we can assist with the Construction Certificate after the DA is approved.
[ 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."
Get in touch with our team today.
Toolbox
Frequently asked questions.
Got questions about prelim assessments? We've put together answers to the most common ones.
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.
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. Development Consent from Council 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.