Category: Complying Development

Unfortunately, because of council approvals, building new properties or renovating your existing home can be costly and time-consuming. But fortunately, there’s an alternative that could save you time, money and stress—complying development certificate.

This type of council approval is significantly faster and cheaper than most regular development applications. CDC approval could take as little as two weeks and save you up to $15,000 under the guidance of the right professionals.

Given that, how much does a complying development certificate cost and how long does the process take?

How much does a complying development certificate cost?

The cost of a complying development certificate varies widely depending on your location, your local council and the development you’re carrying out. Some CDCs for demolition and other simple tasks cost as little as $75+ GST, while others may cost several thousands of dollars.

Fees are generally related to project and build costs, so if you’re undertaking a more extensive project, you can expect higher prices (and vice versa).

Other costs may be involved with preparing your CDC, such as a survey plan, a geotechnical report for structural engineering, a stormwater drainage plan, a landscape plan, and more. Additionally, you may need to pay for building designers, structural engineers and a private certifier to inspect the project work as it continues.

The cost of CDCs is best calculated on a case-by-case basis, so if you’d like to know more, contact Sydney’s leading building designers and CDC experts for more information. Our experienced experts can prepare a comprehensive cost breakdown so you know exactly what to expect from day one.

The complying development certificate process

A complying development certificate is a streamlined building or development approval that simplifies the approval process for projects that meet specific requirements. The process of applying and gaining approval may be faster and easier than a development application, but several steps are still involved.

1. Check your development against local and New South Wales state development standards
   If you’ve already prepared a design for your project, step one should be to check your development and property against local development standards to see if it’s permissible. You should also search land titles for any easements and covenants on your property that may interfere with your CDC.
   
   If you don’t have designs yet, the leading experts at ES Design can help create plans and ensure they’re acceptable for a CDC.
   
2. Prepare relevant documentation
   The next step is to prepare and submit all relevant documentation required for a CDC and engage professionals as needed. This step is significantly easier with the help of a CDC expert at ES Design whose knowledge alleviates the admin and liaising off your hands.
   
   Documentation required may include a certificate of title, DP plan and a section 10.7 (part 2&5) planning certificate.
   
3. Notify neighbours
   It’s always best to talk to your neighbours well in advance of applying for a CDC. That’s because as part of the CDC you and your certifier will be required to notify your neighbours in advance of issuance of the CDC and construction starting.
   
4. Commencement of works
   Once your CDC has been approved and your neighbours have been notified you’re ready to commence work on your project. Both your local council and a private accredited certifier can approve a CDC.
   

How can I make submitting a CDC easier?

Submitting a CDC can shave thousands of dollars off your project cost and months of its timeline. However, checking whether or not your development is eligible and preparing the application itself can be time-consuming, confusing and complicated.

ES Design makes it easy. We’re a team of Sydney’s leading experts in building design, CDCs and development applications with decades of experience in everything from small homes to large developments. We know how to streamline your application and ensure your development is as cost-effective, timely and stress-free as possible.

Ready to get started? Enquire about our premium building design and CDC services today.

When planning renovations or construction work and applying for a Complying Development Certificate (CDC), property owners and their certifiers may be required to notify neighbours, either before the approval of your application or before construction commences. Moreover, if needed, the notification to neighbours must align with government regulations and include specific information.

Building works can be disruptive. It is best to converse with neighbours in advance, regardless of requirements, so they know what to expect before receiving your approval. With that in mind, we’ve put together a simple guide covering everything you need to know about NSW complying development neighbour notification.

When do neighbours need to be notified when applying for a CDC?

Neighbours only need to be notified by your certifier if the development meets the following criteria:

• Development specified under any State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) or Local Environmental Plan (LEP) that involves construction of a new dwelling or alterations and additions to an existing dwelling
• Demolition under the SEPP code;
• Secondary dwellings or group homes under the Housing SEPP.

It is important to note that there are two required neighbourhood notifications according to the NSW planning guidelines.

1. Pre-approval notification
   Before a CDC is issued, neighbours within a 20m radius should be informed of the upcoming project.
   
   – Metro areas: Notified at least 14 days prior
   – Rural areas: not required to notify prior to the issue of a CDC, however, it is highly encouraged.
2. Pre-construction notification
   Irrespective of the development type or the zoning of the land, property owners and certifiers need to notify neighbours within a 20m radius before building commencement of construction if your development is:
   
   – Metro areas: Notified at least 7 days prior
   – Rural areas: notified at least 2 days prior

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure neighbours are notified of the upcoming construction, including keeping a record of the addresses of where the notice has been submitted.

Which neighbours do I need to notify when applying for a CDC?

Under NSW legislation, only certain neighbours must be notified before a CDC is granted. The notice must be sent to the occupier of any property (which may or may not be the owner) within a 20-metre radius. If the dwelling is an apartment or multi-unit building, occupants of each apartment or unit must be notified separately.

Occupiers of these dwellings do not need to be notified before CDC approval if the dwelling is under construction, the lot is vacant, or used commercially, i.e. shops and offices. All neighbouring lots must be notified before construction, regardless of their occupancy or zoning.

What information needs to be provided to neighbours?

It’s important that notifications are completed correctly to avoid any issues with your complying development certificate. All notifications must be in writing either in person through a letter box or via the post and include the following:

• The address of the development.
• A description of the development.
• The name and contact details of the certifier.
• The name, address and contact details of the applicant.
• The date the CDC was received.
• Confirmation that the application has been lodged in accordance with Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
• A statement that once the plans are approved, they will be available to view at the local council.

When they are notified, neighbours may request to see your plans, but under NSW law, you have no obligation to share them, nor are you required to alter a CDC-approved development if your neighbour requests that you do.

Get help from CDC experts

Applying for a complying development certificate can be difficult, time-consuming and costly, especially if the proper processes are not followed. But they don’t need to be. ES Design are one of Sydney’s leading building designers and CDC experts. We’ve helped thousands of people design developments and streamline CDCs with local councils. The result? A development process that’s faster, easier, more affordable and less stressful.

Get in touch with es.au today to enquire.