A construction certificate (CC) application is where your project moves from planning drawings to buildable documents. The certifier needs enough detail to confirm the work will comply with the building code and match your development consent. Here is a practical checklist for houses, granny flats, extensions and Class 10 structures.
Your approval and its conditions
- Development consent with the stamped approved plans and every approved supporting document.
- A response to pre-CC conditions. A written statement working through each pre-CC condition, with evidence such as receipts, approvals and amended plans. Our guide to DA conditions you must meet before a construction certificate covers common examples.
Construction drawings
CC drawings are usually more detailed than DA drawings, so a builder can work directly from them. Expect to provide:
- Site plan with boundaries, setbacks, true north, easements, services, driveway, stormwater layout, erosion and sediment controls, and cut and fill.
- Floor plans for all levels, with room uses, dimensions, existing and new work clearly shown, and any demolition.
- Elevations and at least one section showing ground levels, floor and ceiling levels, roof pitch and material, and window and door sizes.
- Details for stairs, balustrades, wet areas and other elements the code regulates.
Specifications and engineering
- Specification describing construction methods, materials and the Australian Standards that apply.
- Structural engineering for slabs, footings, piers, retaining walls, and steel or timber members beyond the standard framing tables, signed by a qualified engineer.
- Soil or geotechnical report where the engineering does not already set the site classification.
- Stormwater design where the consent or site needs it.
- BASIX certificate with its commitments marked on the drawings or in a schedule.
- Bushfire construction details on bush fire prone land, showing how the required bushfire attack level will be met.
- Performance solution report for any element that uses a performance solution in place of the deemed-to-satisfy provisions.
Administration
- Owner's consent to the application.
- Principal certifier appointment and certification contract, if you are appointing the same certifier. See our principal certifier page.
- Proof of long service levy payment, if the levy applies.
- Estimated cost of work.
Before work starts, the principal certifier also needs the builder's licence details and home building compensation insurance, or owner-builder permit details if you are building yourself.
Tips for a smooth application
- Keep revisions aligned. Architectural, structural and stormwater drawings should all match the same revision of the design. Put the revision letter and date on every sheet.
- Check against the consent. If anything has changed since the DA, raise it before lodging, as a CC cannot be inconsistent with the consent.
- Coordinate BASIX. Window sizes and insulation on the plans must match the BASIX certificate.
- Label files clearly. Name each upload so the certifier can find each drawing without opening every file.
- Get a review first. A plan assessment can spot gaps before you lodge.
To understand where the CC fits in the bigger picture, read What a construction certificate is and why a DA isn't enough. CertifiBuild issues construction certificates for Class 1 and Class 10 work across NSW. Once your package is together, request a quote.
Local help across NSW
CertifiBuild certifies Class 1 and Class 10 work in 39 council areas. Local rules on these council pages are a good place to start: Lane Cove Council, North Sydney Council, Wingecarribee Shire Council, Willoughby City Council, Canterbury-Bankstown Council, Hornsby Shire Council.
Suburb pages with local planning notes: Greenwich, McMahons Point, Mittagong, Naremburn, Neutral Bay, Panania, Pennant Hills, Petersham, Picton, Potts Point. You can also browse every service area.
Sources
- Post consent certificates, NSW Planning Portal
- MyHome Planner: the approval phase, NSW Planning Portal