Complying Development Certificate Sydney
If your project meets the rules set out in the Codes SEPP, you may be able to skip a council Development Application altogether and go straight to a Complying Development Certificate. Vast Consulting Group is a registered certifier based in Botany, assessing and approving CDCs for builders, developers, architects and homeowners across Sydney. We know the codes from both the compliance side and the construction side, so we can tell you quickly whether your project qualifies.
How it works in New South Wales
A Complying Development Certificate is issued by a registered certifier, not council, for projects that meet the standards set out in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008, commonly called the Codes SEPP. This includes the Housing Code for houses and secondary dwellings, the Low Rise Housing Diversity Code for dual occupancies and townhouses, and the Commercial and Industrial Code for many business premises.
Because a CDC checks your project against fixed, published standards rather than a discretionary planning assessment, it can generally be assessed faster than a Development Application. Not every project is eligible: if your site has a heritage listing, is in a flood or bushfire prone area beyond certain limits, or your design exceeds the code's standards, you may need to go through council as a Development Application followed by a Construction Certificate instead. A Section 10.7 Planning Certificate from council is needed as part of a CDC application, to confirm zoning and any relevant restrictions on the land.
The process with Vast
Send us your drawings
We review your site details and plans against the relevant code to check eligibility before you commit to the CDC pathway.
Assessment and approval
We assess the application against the Codes SEPP standards and, where it meets them, issue the Complying Development Certificate.
Inspections during construction
As your appointed Principal Certifier, we carry out the critical stage inspections required for your project as work progresses.
Occupation Certificate
Once construction is complete and compliant, we issue the Occupation Certificate so you can legally occupy or use the building.
What we check
Areas we cover
We assess and issue CDCs across the Sydney metropolitan area, including the Bayside, Randwick, Inner West, Canterbury-Bankstown, Georges River, Sutherland, Liverpool and Parramatta council areas. If your project is elsewhere in New South Wales, contact us and we will confirm whether we can act as your certifier.
FAQs
What projects can use a Complying Development Certificate?
Many single dwellings, secondary dwellings, dual occupancies, townhouses and smaller commercial and industrial developments can use a CDC where they meet the relevant code. Larger, non-compliant or heritage affected sites usually need a DA instead.
How is a CDC different from a Development Application?
A CDC is issued directly by a registered certifier against fixed code standards, without a council merit assessment. A DA goes to council for a planning assessment first, then needs a separate Construction Certificate before work can start.
Can Vast issue my CDC and also be my Principal Certifier?
Yes. We can assess and issue your CDC, then act as your Principal Certifier through construction, carrying out inspections and issuing the Occupation Certificate at the end.
How long does a CDC take to assess?
The Codes SEPP sets statutory assessment timeframes for CDC applications, and we can talk you through what typically applies once we have seen your plans. We keep this hedged because the exact timeframe depends on your project and how complete the application is.
Call our Sydney office on (02) 9821 2062 or send your plans through our contact page for a quote. For Construction Certificates on a DA approved project, see our dedicated page, and if your project is in Queensland, our Brisbane team can help.
Send us the drawings. We'll tell you what it takes to get approved.
Unrestricted building surveyors and certifiers. Residential, commercial and industrial. Brisbane and Sydney.
Woolloongabba QLD 4102 (07) 3112 7689 Also serving the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast