Granny Flat & Secondary Dwelling Approvals NSW

What’s involved:

This is the fast-track option, and we can issue CDCs quickly if your project ticks all the boxes.

Who handles this:

While you’ll be pulling the documents together, including your architectural plans, Buildcert will guide you through the process, and we can also source any property documents (e.g. Title Searches and Planning Certificates) that you might need. 

What you need to get started:

As a minimum, to lodge your application, we will need:

• Buildcert application form
• Architectural plans
• Title Search, Deposited Plan & 88b Instrument (if relevant)
• Section 10.7 Planning Certificate

We’ll then assess your eligibility and let you know if anything else is needed. You can also check out our Lodgement Checklist for secondary dwellings to get ahead.

What’s involved:

If your project doesn’t qualify for CDC, no sweat! It’ll need to go through council first for Development Consent, then to us for a Construction Certificate.

What we’ll need from you:

• Development Consent (from council)
• DA-stamped plans
• Buildcert application form

You can also check out our Application Forms & Lodgement Checklists for secondary dwellings to get ahead.

We take care of lodging your application in the NSW Planning Portal and keep you updated every step of the way. Our certifiers review your project, carry out a site inspection, and let you know if we need any extra details — with clear guidance on exactly what’s required.

Once your project has been assessed, 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.

A clear list of what’s needed upfront, less chasing, fewer surprises. We handle the admin and back-and-forth, while you get proactive updates and peace of mind knowing it’s all sorted.

Our team reviews all documentation, plans, and reports against the National Construction Code, planning legislation (for CDCs), DA conditions (for CCs), and other requirements that apply specifically to secondary dwelling builds.

Once all the documentation is finalised, we will then issue your CDC or CC.

If there are any pre-commencement requirements, we’ll flag them clearly on your approval, like an owner-builder permit or Home Building Compensation Fund Insurance (HBCF). Once you’ve got those sorted, we’ll issue a Notice of Commencement. From there, it’s just a two-day wait before you can get started.

Your approval sets out the component certificates we expect will be needed along the way, so you know exactly what’s required as the build progresses.

It will also outline every mandatory inspection needed for your project. It’s the builder's responsibility to book them in, but we make bookings easy. Book before 3pm and we’ll be there the next day to keep things on track.

Our team will then carry out all mandatory inspections to make sure your build stays safe, compliant, and moving without delays.

For a secondary dwelling, inspections typically include:

• Piers/Footings - prior to placement of concrete
• Slab - prior to placement of concrete
• Frame - prior to insulation and internal linings
• Waterproofing - prior to internal wet area tiling
• Stormwater - prior to backfilling the discharge connection point
• Completion inspection

Once we do a completion inspection and review all your docs, we issue your Occupation Certificate, your official sign-off that the project is complete.

In some cases, a Partial OC can be issued to allow occupancy before items like driveways, landscaping, or retaining walls are complete, though this depends on Council requirements.

Piece of cake, eh?