Get approval to carry out minor development
A complying development certificate can be determined by the City of Sydney or private certifier without the need for a full development application.
Project Status: When you need to do this
Complying development certificates are issued for specified types of low-impact works.
The certificates provide a fast-track approval process, while ensuring stringent planning and environmental requirements are met through a set of prescribed approval conditions.
Some categories of work that are complying development:
- Alterations and additions to an existing dwelling
- Construction of a secondary dwelling
- Small retail and commercial development
- Internal alterations or fit-outs of commercial buildings
- Street awnings and business signs.
What you need to do
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Confirm that the proposed development can be assessed as complying development
Review complying development information on the NSW Planning Portal. You should also check for any agreements that may apply to your property – refer to the covenants and complying development fact sheet.
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Complete an application on the NSW Planning Portal
Complying development certificate applications must be lodged online.
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Pay application fees
Once your application is complete and accepted for lodgement, our team will contact you for payment.
Your application won’t be lodged until the application fees have been paid.
To obtain a fee quote please contact us on 02 9265 9333 or review our schedule of fees and charges.
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Assessment
Once lodged, your application will be allocated to a registered certifier. The certifier will contact you if any further information is required.
Before you start
Prepare your supporting documents
Below is a list of documents you’ll need to provide along with your application.
Electronic documents lodged with your application must satisfy our digital requirements, including file format, size, resolution and naming conventions.
For works that may impact on common dividing walls of terrace houses see party walls for further information.
After you finish
Determination
The determination will be issued on the NSW Planning Portal, including any supporting documents such as approved stamped plans.
Notifying neighbours
You must notify neighbours if you use the complying development system to carry out works in residential zones.
Neighbours within a 20m radius of the site will be notified by the registered certifier when they are processing a complying development application within a residential zone.
If you are unsure about whether you are located in a residential zone you can check the land zoning maps or apply for a zoning certificate.
Neighbours have no objection rights to a complying development proposal because it meets minimum impact criteria on surrounding properties.
Development contributions
Some complying development may require a contribution towards public amenities and services.
For complying development, accredited certifiers are responsible for calculating the contribution in line with our relevant development contributions plan.
If a contribution is required, a condition requiring payment of the contribution is to be included in the complying development certificate.
You must pay the contribution before commencing the complying development works.
Appointing a principal certifier
After the certificate is issued, a principal certifier must be appointed to ensure the works comply. If you decide to use the City of Sydney as the principal certifier, you need to apply through the NSW Planning Portal.
Once your appointment form is complete and accepted for lodgement on the NSW Planning Portal, we will contact you to make payment of the fees.
Notice of work commencing must be provided to us at least 48 hours before works begin.
Obtaining an occupation certificate
At completion of works and before you occupy or use the building/structure, you must obtain an occupation certificate from the principal certifier. You need to lodge the application on the NSW Planning Portal .
