Frequently asked questions

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.

A Construction Certificate (CC) is one of the key conditions you’ll need after a Development Consent from Council is approved. 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.

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.

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.

You betcha - inspections are required as part of the approval process. They’re how we make sure your project meets safety and compliance standards.

The inspections listed on your CDC or CC are the minimum required for your project. The exact number can change depending on things like staging or construction method. If extra inspections are needed, we’ll flag it early and let you know what’s involved.

It’s usually the builder’s responsibility to book inspections in, and in some cases specialists (like engineers) may also need to inspect and provide written confirmation. Either way, we’ll keep you across what’s required so there are no surprises.

By law, an Occupation Certificate can’t be issued if a mandatory inspection hasn’t taken place, unless it’s deemed “unavoidable” and backed by solid evidence. Simply forgetting or miscommunication isn’t considered enough.

If an inspection is missed, the owner must be formally notified and extra steps are required. This may include a statutory declaration explaining the circumstances, first and/or third party certification and supporting documents such as engineering certifications and photos to prove compliance. Even then, approval is not guaranteed, which is why booking inspections on time is critical.

It’s easy. Just use our online booking form, call us on 1300 457 400, or email us at inspect@buildcert.com.au.

Before booking, make sure the work is ready to be inspected, this helps us complete the check without delays. After each inspection, you’ll receive a clear, written report from one of our registered certifiers, confirming what’s compliant and outlining anything that still needs to be sorted.

The Principal Certifier (PC) is responsible for making sure your build meets all the regulations and rules, from your CC or CDC, through to final approval. They’ll carry out mandatory inspections, check that your construction follows the National Construction Code and planning conditions, and issue the Occupation Certificate when everything’s complete and compliant.

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.

The Long Service Levy is a NSW Government fee that applies to building projects valued at $250,000 or more (including GST). It helps fund long service benefits for workers in the construction industry. You can pay it online via the Long Service Corporation portal.

Owner builders may be eligible for a refund of up to 50% once the full levy has been paid; you’ll just need to submit the exemption application form.

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 works are 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Not quite. We’re here to handle the certification (we’re talking approvals, inspections, and compliance). But, by law, we are unable to offer design or project management services.

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.

Crown Building Work applies to works by state government or public authorities on Crown land. It confirms the project complies with Building Code requirements, allowing construction to proceed on Crown-owned sites.

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.