Exempt development
Some minor types of development don’t need approval from Council, as long as they are low impact and meet any relevant State guidelines. This is called exempt development, and can include things like decks, garden sheds, carports and fences.
You can read more about exempt development on the NSW Department of Planning website.
Complying development
Many straightforward, common types of development like building or adding to a house, demolishing a building, or changing a business use can be done as complying development. This is a fast-track approval process for straightforward residential, commercial and industrial development.
The work will need to meet any relevant standards and be signed off by an accredited certifying authority. Council is an accredited certifying authority. Other accredited certifiers can be found on the Building Certifiers Public Register.
You can apply for Council to assess your complying development, and apply for a final Occupation Certificate once work is finished.
Use the button below to apply to Council via the NSW Planning Portal for a complying development certificate or occupation certificate.
Complying development on bush fire prone land
Please see our Bush Fire Certificates page if you're planning complying development on bush fire prone land.
Complying development and Section 138 Road Act approvals
Please use the links below if your complying development includes driveway and / or road occupancy works:
What if my project doesn't meet the rules for Exempt or Complying Development?
If your activity doesn’t fit within the rules for exempt or complying development, you will most likely need to get approval from Council by submitting a development application.
You can also ask us for free development advice to confirm what you'll need to do.