Exempt development is very low impact development or minor renovation work which satisfies pre-specified requirements. If your development meets the requirements, it will not require approval.

Exempt development cannot be carried out in some circumstances. For example, if it is in an environmentally sensitive area, on bush fire prone land or within a heritage area.

It is the landowner’s responsibility to check all the provisions relating to exempt development and meet the specified development standards and land requirements.

It is important to note that the proposed development may still require an approval, licence, permit or authority under other legislation.

To determine if your development is considered exempt, visit the NSW Planning Portal for further information.

Complying development (CDC) is a fast-track approval process for straight forward residential, commercial and industrial development, as long as all relevant development standards are met and the development complies with the Building Code of Australia. A CDC proposal must first be permissible under the applicable Local Environmental Plan (LEP) before it can be considered under the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP).

State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (the Codes SEPP) identifies the types of development that are classified as complying development.

For your development to be considered to be complying development, your land must not have the characteristics described in Clause 1.17A, Clause 1.18 and Clause 1.19 of the Codes SEPP.

A Planning Certificate under Section 10.7(2) of the EP&A Act can be applied for to show whether complying development under the Codes SEPP can be carried out on a particularly piece of land.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the proposed development meets all the complying development requirements. Council and registered private certifiers cannot issue a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) if the development does not strictly meet these requirements. No merit assessment is permissible for CDCs. CDC applications must be 100% compliant with its applicable development standards.

Our Duty Building Officer can assist you with general questions you may have regarding the CDC process by calling (02) 6801 4000 after 1 pm or by booking an appointment. Alternatively, you can visit the NSW Planning Portal for further information on complying development. However, they will not advise whether an application proposal is compliant as a CDC or not.

The legislation does not permit a CDC application to be withdrawn - only approved or refused.

To apply for an application online, you will be required to create a NSW Planning Portal account.

The type of information that accompanies an application will vary depending on your proposal and site. This may include:

• Owner's Consent
• Statement of Environmental Effects
• Are you in a bushfire zone? If yes, a bushfire report from an accredited consultant is required to be supplied with your application.
• Plans of the proposed development (including site plan, floor plans, elevations and sections)
• Subdivision plans (if subdivision is proposed)
• BASIX Certificate

To view the list of all documents that are required, refer to the Matrix located under the Supporting Documentation.

Once you have all the required documentation, you are ready to submit your application. These documents need to be electronic pdf versions in order to complete your application. After submission, a Council Officer will review your application and documents, if your application is considered incomplete, you will receive details on what is required via the NSW Planning Portal - Additional Information.

Lodgement fees will be calculated by Council staff and an invoice will be provided to you for payment. This will be sent via the NSW Planning Portal as further information. For your convenience, there are two payment options available:

1. Payment via our website using your credit card (preferred option).
2. BPay (please note, this may take longer to show in Council's account).

PLEASE NOTE: THE APPLICATION WILL NOT BE LODGED OR ASSESSED UNTIL PAYMENT IS RECEIVED IN FULL.