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Resources & Blogs

Welcome to our blog and resource hub, your go-to destination for expert insights and practical advice on building certification, building approvals, construction certificates, and complying development certificates in Sydney. Whether you’re embarking on a new project or navigating complex regulations, we’re here to simplify the process and keep you informed every step of the way. Explore our articles for tips, updates, and step-by-step guides to ensure your building journey is smooth, efficient, and compliant with the latest standards.

A residential property featuring a lush lawn, accompanied by a complying development certificate (CDC)

This guide simplifies the complying development process for alterations and additions to a dwelling house, helping you navigate the legislation with ease.

Designed to clarify the complying development rules, this guide provides a step-by-step approach to detached garage approvals. 

Unsure about complying development rules? This detached studio guide breaks them down, making detached studio building approval process hassle-free.

Your go-to resource for navigating the complexities of complying development, this guide makes dwelling house complying development approvals simple.

This guide explains the complying development rules for home renovations, making approval easier and stress-free.

Understanding complying development can be overwhelming, but this guide is here to help you confidently plan your granny flat.

Planning to build a swimming pool? This guide walks you through the complying development rules so you can start your project with confidence.

The webpage from NSW Fair Trading provides answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about certifiers in the context of building and renovating in New South Wales. It explains the role of certifiers, who are responsible for ensuring that building projects comply with the relevant laws and regulations. The page covers important topics such as how to choose a certifier, their duties, what certificates they issue, and the process for lodging documents. It also provides guidance on what to do if issues arise during the certification process and where to seek further assistance. This resource is designed to help homeowners, builders, and renovators understand the certifying process and their responsibilities under the law.

The webpage from NSW Fair Trading offers advice to building certifiers on how to prevent missed critical stage inspections by being firm and proactive with builders. It emphasizes the importance of clear communication and strong oversight to ensure that inspections are scheduled and completed on time, which helps to maintain compliance with building regulations. The page advises certifiers to clearly outline their expectations with builders, including setting deadlines for inspections and ensuring that necessary documentation is submitted promptly. It also suggests that certifiers should take a proactive approach in following up with builders if an inspection is not carried out as scheduled, to avoid delays in the building process. The resource aims to support certifiers in effectively managing inspections and preventing issues that could arise from missed critical stage checks.

In New South Wales, if you’re undertaking a building or construction project valued at $250,000 or more (including GST), you’re required to pay a long service levy of 0.25% of the total project cost before commencing work. This levy supports long service entitlements for eligible workers in the industry. To pay, gather your project details, including application type, reference number, local government area, site address, estimated dates, and total cost. Then, log in to your MyServiceNSW Account or LSC account, select ‘Pay New Levy,’ and follow the prompts. Owner-builders or non-profit organizations may be eligible for up to a 50% exemption.

In New South Wales, registered certifiers are independent professionals who assess and approve building and subdivision projects. They ensure that construction plans meet all legal requirements and conduct mandatory inspections during construction to confirm compliance. Certifiers operate independently and do not work for builders or developers. They can only issue development certificates if all legislative requirements are met. After final inspections, if everything is in order, they issue an occupation certificate, allowing the building to be occupied. It’s important to appoint a principal certifier before starting your project to oversee these processes.

In New South Wales, if a mandatory building inspection is missed, an occupation certificate can only be issued if the principal certifying authority (PCA) determines the inspection was ‘unavoidably missed’ and the work is satisfactory. Builders must notify the PCA at least 48 hours before each inspection stage; forgetting isn’t a valid excuse. Certifiers should assess missed inspections carefully, considering evidence provided. Examples of unavoidable circumstances include immediate safety concerns requiring work to be covered or sudden illness of the certifier. If the PCA isn’t convinced, they may refuse the occupation certificate, potentially affecting project timelines and payments.

In New South Wales, builders and tradespeople must obtain Home Building Compensation (HBC) insurance for residential projects over $20,000 (including GST). This insurance protects homeowners if the builder cannot complete the work or fix defects due to insolvency, death, disappearance, or license suspension. The insurance certificate must be provided to the homeowner before starting work or accepting any payment, including deposits. To acquire HBC insurance, builders need to apply for eligibility through icare HBCF, the sole insurer in NSW. It’s essential to ensure all building contracts clearly state the HBC insurance cost and that the insurance is obtained before commencing work.

The Home Building Compensation Fund (HBCF) in New South Wales offers a safety net for homeowners if their builder can’t fulfill contractual obligations due to insolvency, death, disappearance, or license suspension. For residential projects over $20,000, builders must secure HBC insurance before starting work or accepting any payment. This insurance covers losses from incomplete or defective work, with maximum coverage of $340,000 per dwelling. Homeowners should ensure they receive a Certificate of Insurance from their builder prior to commencement. If issues arise, homeowners can lodge a complaint with Building Commission NSW or pursue claims through the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) or a court.

The State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (Codes SEPP) in New South Wales streamlines the approval process for specific low-impact developments. It defines ‘exempt development’—minor works like small decks or garden sheds—that don’t require council approval, and ‘complying development’—straightforward projects such as certain home extensions—that meet preset standards for fast-tracked approval. By adhering to the Codes SEPP criteria, homeowners and developers can save time and reduce paperwork.

The State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021, known as the Housing SEPP, was established to promote affordable and diverse housing options in New South Wales. It consolidates five previous housing-related policies into a single framework, simplifying the planning system. The policy introduces new housing types, such as co-living housing and independent living units, and enhances provisions for existing housing forms like boarding houses, build-to-rent developments, and seniors housing. By streamlining regulations, the Housing SEPP aims to facilitate the development of a wider range of housing options to meet the state’s evolving needs.

The webpage explains Development Application (DA) approval, a necessary process for construction or major renovations in Australia. It highlights that a DA ensures a project complies with local zoning laws, building codes, and community standards. The page covers the steps to obtain DA approval, including preparing plans, working with professionals, and submitting the application to the local council. It also mentions potential costs, timelines, and the risk of delays if the application doesn’t meet council requirements. Overall, it provides a clear overview of the DA process for homeowners and developers.

Our Service Areas

The map below highlights the areas across Sydney where I provide professional services as a Building Certifier and Private Certifier, specialising in Construction Certificates and Complying Development Certificates. I offer building approvals for new houses, alterations and additions to dwelling houses, swimming pools, granny flats, detached studios, and more. Explore the map to see if your location is covered, and feel free to reach out!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Backyard certifiers in Sydney showcasing stunning landscaping designs.

No, we do not approve class 2-to-9 buildings. We approve class 1 and class 10 buildings only. We cannot approve a change of use for a business or building work in apartment buildings.

We can help you with any class 1 and 10 building approval, including single dwellings, renovations, dual occupancies, alterations, additions, granny flats, pools, studios, garages and demolitions.

We provide building approvals mostly in these Sydney council areas: Bayside, Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury, Georges River, Hunters Hill, Inner West, Lane Cove, Mosman, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, Randwick, Ryde, Strathfield, Sutherland, Sydney, Waverley, Willoughby and Woollahra.

Complying Development is a planning and development assessment process in New South Wales that allows for certain types of low-impact building and development projects to be approved quickly and efficiently, by private certifiers, without the need for a full development application to the local council.

A construction certificate is required to be issued by the building certifier before building works can start. The construction certificate verifies that the construction plans are consistent with the development consent (DA) and comply with the building code of Australia (BCA).

Explore Our Range of Services

Let our experienced team guide you through every step of obtaining your complying development certificate.
Allow us to guide you swiftly and smoothly through the process of securing your construction certificate.
Our comprehensive BCA reports detail and assesses whether your building complies with the national standards and regulations for construction.

Pool Compliance

Have our experienced team by your side to guide you through obtaining your swimming pool compliance certificate.
Inspections that verify the work meets the BCA, relevant Australian Standards, the development consent conditions, and matches the Approved Plans.
Using innovation and streamlined services to deliver a range of private certification services for home owners, architects and building designers.
Ensure each and every building is compliant with the Building Code of Australia, Australian Standards and the regulations.

Occupation Certificates

After construction, ensure the building meets the Building Code of Australia, Australian Standards, and regulations.
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