If you are thinking of renovating your home, extending it, building one or another similar kind of residential development in New South Wales, then most probably you must have heard the word “Complying Development Certificate.” Although the process of approval for the planning seems to be complex, knowing the CDC can certainly help you get the project done in less time and with fewer delays.
Put simply, by obtaining the Complying Development Certificate, some building work can be approved without making a Development Application. And if the proposal complies with the relevant planning and building criteria, then it can be approved in a shorter period than most of the property owners may anticipate. In simple terms, a Complying Development Certificate allows certain types of building projects to be approved without going through the full Development Application process. If a proposal meets the required planning and building standards, approval can often be obtained more quickly than many property owners expect.
In this article, we will be discussing what a Complying Development Certificate is, how the process takes place, and what you need to know about it.
The Complying Development Certificate is a planning and construction approval granted through a private certifier or the local council. This is proof that the development being considered meets the pre-existing planning and construction standards in NSW.
Different from the Development Application, which must pass the assessment stage at the local council, CDCs are usually processed and completed quickly, where all standards are satisfied.
Such a fast process is reserved for developments that cause little impact on the environment and that comply with certain planning requirements.
Any development cannot qualify for a complying development certificate. For one to qualify, certain conditions must be met as stipulated in the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP).
Some projects that might qualify are:
Several factors, such as zoning of land, lot size, location and others, determine the qualification of a project. It is important to establish whether you are able to obtain a CDC before spending on planning and construction.
There are many reasons why many owners opt for the CDC process compared to the DA process.
Quick Approval Periods
Probably the most advantageous feature of the CDC is the quick turnaround time, which allows for approvals within days after the submission of documents.
Planning and Construction Approval in One
Since the CDC involves both planning and construction approvals, the process is less complicated administratively.
Higher Certainty
There is generally higher certainty about the outcome of the approval since developments must satisfy certain standards.
Faster Projects
In some instances, there are no delays caused by council assessment and notification processes.
Knowing how the process works can make the application easier and faster.
Step 1: Determine the Eligibility of the Project
The first step in the process is ensuring that the development meets certain development requirements.
These factors include:
Most property owners hire architects, building designers, or planning consultants to do the preliminary evaluation.
Step 2: Preparation of Plans & Documentation
After confirming eligibility, plans and documentation are prepared.
Common documentation includes:
Documentation is important in order to prevent any problems during the assessment process.
Step 3: CDC Assessment
The application is then submitted for evaluation by a certified building surveyor or council.
A review is performed on the application in order to establish whether it meets the required planning and building requirements. If the development meets all the requirements, the certificate is issued.
If not, changes have to be made, or a Development Application has to be made.
Step 4: Obtaining the Certificate
After approval, the Complying Development Certificate is issued.
Before undertaking any building works, there will be other conditions that may need to be met, such as:
Step 5: Construction & Inspections
Inspections are performed at different stages during the construction period.
The inspections serve to ensure that the building works meet the approved plans as well as all the building requirements.
Common inspections may include:
Inspections must take place before moving on to the next step of the process.
Step 6: Occupation Certificate
After construction is completed, another inspection takes place.
An Occupation Certificate can be granted if everything meets the approved certificate and building code. This means that the building is then able to be legally occupied or used.
While the CDC process does have less red tape than the DA process, there are still some things that can cause delays.
These include:
Seeking out the help of experts in this process will greatly minimize this risk.
As stated above, the CDC process is a combination of planning and compliance requirement development. Even smaller projects can get quite complex if the regulations are not fully understood.
An architect, building designer, certifier, and planning consultant can assist in:
There is no doubt that the Complying Development Certificate approval process is an effective way to obtain approval for many developments within New South Wales. A faster process with greater certainty can be provided by the CDC certificate. Therefore, it can assist the owner in getting their development approved much quicker than through council approval.
Every project is different, which is why it’s important to confirm the approval pathway before construction begins. Taking the time to understand what is required upfront can help avoid unnecessary delays once the project is underway.
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