How to lodge an application

Before you lodge your DA, you need to review the planning policies that apply to your land:

• Local Environment Plan
• Development Control Plan

To see local planning restrictions that may apply to your land or property, use the NSW Planning Portal Spatial Viewer

Our development team are here to help you work towards a successful outcome as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. By getting in contact with our team early in the process, you can:

• Gain an early understanding of what you're trying to achieve
• Identify everything that’s required for the proposed development site
• Receive early access to professionals who may assess your application which can save you time and money.

Contact our Duty Planners by calling 02 6378 2850, or visiting the Duty Desk at Council’s Administration Centre Monday to Friday, from 9am-3:30pm.

Alternatively, for significant developments, you can book a meeting with one of our Duty Officers. You can book a pre-lodgement meeting with a Duty Planner or Health and Building Surveyor by contacting Council’s customer service centre. 

Your application will not be accepted unless all the required information and supporting documents be provided.

Depending on your application, supporting documents could include plans like a locality, site, bulk earthworks or elevation, drainage, landscape or notification plans.

For a more detailed guide, Council has prepared a Planning and building application lodgement guide and checklist. This guide explains how to prepare for a variety of Council applications related to development including development applications, construction certificates, complying development certificates and combined development and construction certificate applications.

Planning-and-Building-Lodgement-Guide.pdf(PDF, 7MB)

All development applications must be lodged via the NSW Government’s Planning Portal. You will be asked to register an account or login through Service NSW so you can lodge and track your application.

If you require assistance with lodging your application, we have a Kiosk available Mon-Friday 9am-3pm, and one of our Development Administration Officers can help you if all required information is provided.

Once you have submitted your application via the Portal, Council will be notified, and our staff will then review your application. If more information is required, your application may be returned, and you will be asked to resubmit once all necessary documents have been obtained.

Once you've lodged your application via the Planning Portal with all required documentation, we will determine what fees are owed, and you will receive an additional information request asking for payment.

Fees are charged in line with Council's Fees and Charges 

Please note that payment is required within 4 days of submitting your application.

Once fees are paid, your application will be formally lodged and will progress through for assessment.

Failure to pay fees may result in your application being returned.

After your application has undergone the initial review, and fees have been paid, you will receive an application number which you will need to use to make enquiries and track the progress.

To track your application, please click here.

Some development applications are required to be publicly notified or advertised on Council’s website. This allows interested people to see the details of your application and make comments within a specified time frame.

Council will consider any public submissions when making their assessment.

Please note: Not all development applications are subject to 'on public exhibition', only those applications identified by Councils Community Participation Plan as requiring notification, are publicly exhibited here. 

Your application will be assigned to a planner or building surveyor who will review your proposal's impacts and conduct a site inspection.

They will evaluate your proposal’s compliance with development controls, statutory requirements and any relevant objections.

After this, a development assessment report will be completed along with a recommendation.

• Further Information

If during the assessment of your application additional information is required you will receive a request via the Planning Portal.

After your application has been determined you may be required to submit a post consent certificate, Section 68 or Section 138 application through the Planning Portal.

These may include:

• Construction Certificate (CC) – required for all building work applications from either a Council Certifier or a private Certifier to ensure compliance with the consent conditions and National Construction Code - NCC (previously known as: Building Code of Australia - BCA).
• Principle Certifier Appointment – must be submitted alongside CC application.
• Occupation Certificate (OC) – required to occupy and use a new development, or to change the use of an existing building. This must be approved and collected from Council, or another Principal Certifier, before occupying the building or making any changes to its use.
• Building Information Certificate (BIC) - usually requested when suspected building work has been undertaken without the appropriate approvals.
• Subdivision Certificate (SC)
• Section 68 – activity approval pursuant to Section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993 i.e. plumbing and drainage, placement of manufactured home etc.
• Section 138 – for any works in a road reserve. 

Council’s team of Registered Building Certifiers (Surveyors) offer a comprehensive range of professional services tailored to the needs of builders, developers, architects, building designers, homeowners, and other industry consultants, all whilst ensuring compliance with relevant legislation is achieved.

Continuing to innovate and refine our processes with the primary goal of providing an efficient, professional client experience, Council delivers smarter, faster solutions while ensuring complete transparency throughout the approval process. Call Councils team of Registered Building Certifiers (Surveyors) to discuss how we can help you.

If you need to make changes to an approved DA you will need to lodge an application, via the NSW Planning Portal.  A fee will be also be charged to modify an approval.

Depending on the nature of the modification, new supporting documents may need to be supplied. You will also need to amend the original supporting documentation that will be affected.

If you’re unsure how to modify your development, contact Council’s Duty Officers on 02 6378 2850.