NSW PLANNING & APPROVALS GUIDE

Do I need a DA or CDC?

Navigating Sydney council planning approvals can seem overwhelming. Use our interactive checker for a general idea of whether your renovation may suit complying development (CDC) or needs a formal Council DA. It is a guide only, not planning advice.

NSW APPROVALS CHECKER

Check your approval pathway

1. Heritage or critical environmental zoning?
2. What is the extent of proposed building work?
3. Boundary setbacks and building envelope
4. Property type and lot size

THE TWO APPROVAL PATHWAYS

Understanding the NSW Planning Portal

Every Sydney council operates under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. Here is how CDC and DA compare.

FAST TRACK

Complying Development (CDC)

A fast-tracked approval pathway for development that meets all of the standards in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (the Codes SEPP).

  • Turnaround: NSW Planning says fast-tracked approvals can be issued in as little as 20 days. The standard process allows 14 days for neighbour notification.
  • Approval Body: Council or an accredited certifier.
  • Neighbour Involvement: Neighbours are notified before approval is issued.
  • Best for: Development that meets every complying development standard for the site.
CUSTOM MERIT

Council Development Application (DA)

Formal assessment by your local council planners against the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP).

  • Turnaround: Generally longer than a CDC. It varies by council and by how complex the site is.
  • Approval Body: Your local council (or a planning panel for some larger projects).
  • Neighbour Involvement: Notification or exhibition usually applies, and neighbours can make submissions.
  • Best for: Heritage items, work outside the complying development standards, and sites that need merit assessment.

General information only, not planning or legal advice. Eligibility depends on your zoning, lot, heritage status and the specific standards, so confirm it with your council or an accredited certifier. Timing is from NSW Planning (complying development, checked 12 October 2026). The NSW Government has proposed changes to the complying development system, so check the current rules on the NSW Planning Portal.

Photography includes owner-supplied Milestone work and licensed renovation inspiration. Captions identify the source; inspiration images are not Milestone projects. Team portraits are identified separately.