Once building work starts, your principal certifier needs to see it at set points. These are called critical stage inspections. They are required by NSW law, and they are how the certifier makes sure what is built lines up with the approved plans before parts of it are covered up.
The inspections for a house or Class 10 building
For Class 1 homes (houses, granny flats, duplexes, townhouses) and Class 10 structures (garages, sheds, decks and the like), the standard stages are:
- After excavation, before footings go in. We check the trenches or pier holes match the engineer's design and sit on suitable ground.
- Before concrete is poured for any reinforced element such as a slab or footing. We check reinforcement, bar sizes, cover and set-out.
- Before the frame is covered. This happens once the frame, roof and services rough-in are done but before insulation or linings go on. We check bracing, tie-downs, lintels and fixings.
- Before wet area waterproofing gets tiled over. Bathrooms, laundries and similar rooms are checked before tiles go down.
- Before stormwater connections are covered. We confirm downpipes and drainage connect as the plans require.
- Final inspection when everything is finished, ahead of the occupation certificate.
Not every project needs every stage. A carport with no slab, for example, will skip some. Your approval spells out which stages apply to your job.
Extra stages for swimming pools
Pools have their own checkpoints. The certifier inspects before any reinforced concrete is poured, and again after the pool safety barrier has been put up. The pool must not be filled until the barrier has passed.
How to book
The builder or owner books each inspection with the principal certifier. We ask for at least 48 hours' notice so we can fit the visit into the build program. Bookings can be made online here.
Have the approved plans, engineering details and any relevant certificates on site. If something does not match, we explain what needs fixing, in writing, so the next step is clear.
Missed an inspection?
A missed inspection is serious. Once work is covered, the certifier can no longer see it. Depending on the stage, you may need an engineer's report, photos, or even partial removal of linings before the certifier can be satisfied. In some cases an occupation certificate cannot be issued at all.
The simplest rule: if you are about to cover something up, check whether an inspection is due first.
What happens after each visit
Every inspection is written up. The record notes the date, the stage, what was looked at and whether the work matched the approved documents. If items need fixing, the record lists them so the builder knows exactly what to address before the next stage or a follow-up visit.
These records build up over the job and become part of the evidence the certifier relies on at the end. Once the last visit is complete, a full set of passed stages makes the occupation certificate far simpler to issue. Keep your own copies too, as lenders and future buyers sometimes ask for them.
Read more on our critical stage inspections page, or see how inspections fit into our process.
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: Kiama Municipal Council, Central Coast Council, Canterbury-Bankstown Council, City of Canada Bay, Lane Cove Council, Blacktown City Council.
Suburb pages with local planning notes: Bonnyrigg, Kiama Heights, Lake Munmorah, Lane Cove, Mannering Park, Marayong, Padstow, Revesby, Rodd Point, Summer Hill. You can also browse every service area.
Sources
- Development Certification & Fire Safety Regulation 2021, as made (legislation.nsw.gov.au)
- Occupation certificate guidelines, NSW Department of Planning