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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.

Yes, but only if your plans meet all the requirements set out in the NSW planning codes, including site dimensions, scale, and detail. However, we highly recommend engaging a qualified architect or draftsperson to complete your plans.

Want to go the DIY route? Make sure your plans comply with the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP).

No, we don’t offer design or drafting services. Our role is to assess and approve your plans (it’s what we do best), not create them. We recommend reaching out to a local architect or draftsperson who can help bring your project to life. Then, we’ll take care of the certification side.

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.

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.

A Construction Certificate (CC) is one of the key approvals you’ll need after Development Consent from Council. It confirms that your construction plans match your approved Development Application (DA), meet the National Construction Code, and comply with any planning conditions. It also covers key details like structural safety, fire compliance and energy efficiency.

Once your CC is issued, the last step before work starts is a formal Notice of Commencement. We’ll guide you through this so you can hit the ground running.

A Development Application (DA) is formal approval from your local Council to carry out certain types of building work (like a new home, a major renovation, or a change in land use).

You’ll need a DA if your project doesn’t meet the criteria for a fast-tracked Complying Development Certificate (CDC). Every site’s different, so things like design, zoning, heritage listings, and bushfire risk all play a role in whether a DA is required.

If you do need one, the DA process involves submitting plans and documents for Council assessment. If it’s approved, you’ll receive a development consent with conditions you’ll need to follow. After that, we can then get your Construction Certificate (CC) sorted so you can start building.

Not sure if your project needs a DA? No worries. Buildcert can assess your plans and help you figure out the right approval pathway.

Once your DA is approved, the next step is getting a Construction Certificate (CC) which is the next step before you can start building.

We’ll review your plans, check everything lines up with your DA conditions and the National Construction Code (NCC), and flag any missing documents. If all is in order, we’ll lodge your application, issue your certificate, and get you set up for inspections and construction.

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.

Unfortunately not. Neither a CDC nor CC can be issued retrospectively in NSW. If you’ve built without approval, the right path is applying for a Building Information Certificate (BIC) through Council.

You sure do! If you’re doing building work in NSW that requires approval, you’ll need to appoint a Principal Certifier before you start. Without one, your project is considered unauthorised, and Council can step in to stop the work. That can mean delays, extra paperwork, fines, or worse.

If you're taking on a project as an owner builder where the cost of works is more than $10k you’ll need an Owner Builder Permit from NSW Fair Trading. But you can only apply for it once your CDC has been issued.

You’ll also need to give us a copy of your permit at least two days before work starts.

More info and permit applications are available via NSW Fair Trading.

No, we don’t provide Pool Compliance Certificates. If you need one, check the NSW Swimming Pool Register for a list of licensed certifiers. That said, we can handle certification for new pool builds, ensuring everything is compliant from the start.

If building work was done without proper approval, a Building Information Certificate (BIC) from Council is needed. Council uses the BIC to review what’s been done and decide if it meets current codes or needs modifications.

Can Buildcert help? Unfortunately, Buildcert can’t issue BICs. Only Council can issue a BIC NSW. However, as part of the BIC process, Council may request a Building Code of Australia (BCA) report. If this is the case, then we may be able to assist with this report depending on the project details.

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.

Subdivision is the process of splitting your land into new lots; each potentially with its own title. Think Torrens (stand‑alone blocks), Strata (units within a building), or Community title (private lots with shared infrastructure).

Compliance with the relevant laws and documentation is key to making your subdivision official.

A subdivision certifier is a registered professional (through NSW Fair Trading) who signs off the approvals needed to legally subdivide land. That includes certificates like Subdivision Works Certificates, Complying Development Certificates, Compliance Certificates and Subdivision Certificates — the key paperwork that lets you register titles and get on with the next stage.

Because subdivision certifiers focus solely on subdivision approvals, developers can move forward faster and avoid the long delays often experienced with Council. Whether it’s Torrens Title, Strata or Community Title, the right certifier helps keep your project moving smoothly.

Any project that divides land into legally separate lots needs subdivision certification. If you’re also constructing buildings (like townhouses or units), you'll need both subdivision certification and regular building certification, so your project is compliant, safe, and properly recorded.

If you're splitting a lot into two separate titles for a dual occupancy, yes; subdivision certification is needed to register each dwelling independently.

It ensures you can sell or title each side later, easily and legally.

Yes, unless you’re housing multiple dwellings under one title. If you're creating separate lots or titles for each unit or house, you’ll need a subdivision certificate to make that official.