Lithgow City Council
Private building certifier in Hermitage Flat
CertifiBuild certifies new houses, extensions, sheds, garages and granny flats in Hermitage Flat. Because lots vary widely in size, we begin by finding which zone and lot size rules govern your block.
NSW 2790
Class 1 homes and Class 10 structures
Local rules
Hermitage Flat: a small locality near Lithgow
Small and mostly houses
Hermitage Flat is a small locality near Lithgow. At the 2021 Census it had 323 residents in 179 private dwellings. Detached houses made up 83.6% of those occupied. With so few homes, each project tends to be shaped by its own block rather than a street pattern.
Why zone matters here
The Lithgow Development Control Plan 2021 treats houses differently depending on zone and lot size. Urban controls cover the R1, R2 and RU5 zones, plus R5 large lots of no more than 4,000 m2. Rural controls cover RU1, RU2, E3 and E4 land, plus R5 lots bigger than 4,000 m2. On rural land up to 2 hectares, for example, a dwelling needs 20 metres to a public road. Side and rear boundaries need 10 metres or more. So the same house design can pass on one block and fail on the next.
Hazards to check
Look up your lot on the mine subsidence and bush fire prone land maps. Parts of the Lithgow area also fall within Sydney's drinking water catchment, which brings extra stormwater controls.
Typical work
Common projects and how they get approved
What owners build here
Hermitage Flat projects range from town style blocks to larger lots. Your zone sets which DCP section applies. Common work includes:
- New houses, sited to meet either urban or rural setbacks depending on zone.
- Extensions and verandahs on existing homes, often to add living space or bedrooms.
- Large sheds on R5 lots bigger than 4,000 m2, up to 150 m2 each.
- Granny flats, within the size limit set by the local plan and clear of setbacks.
- Rural driveways at least 3.5 metres wide, as the DCP requires, with safe access for fire trucks where needed.
How approval usually works
A CDC (complying development certificate, the state code fast track) may suit a Hermitage Flat house, shed or pool when both block and plans comply with the code. Larger rural style projects, or lots with mapped hazards, often need a development application (DA) to council. Before lodging, confirm your zone and lot area, because they decide setbacks, shed limits and height. Check the bush fire map, as a mapped lot needs a bushfire assessment and construction standard. Confirm whether you are inside a mine subsidence district, and whether the drinking water catchment rules apply to your lot. CertifiBuild works through the zone and hazard checks with you first, then focuses on getting your home or shed certified without fuss.
Our services
From approval to sign-off.
One certifier for your whole Hermitage Flat job, from the first plan check to the occupation certificate.
Local questions
Questions we hear about this suburb.
No two lots in Hermitage Flat are the same. Give us your address and we will check every map that affects it.
See the council pageWhat shed size is allowed on a large Hermitage Flat lot?
On an R5 lot larger than 4,000 m2, the Lithgow DCP allows outbuildings totalling up to 300 m2 of floor area, with no single building over 150 m2. Walls are limited to 4.2 metres high and ridges to 6 metres. Smaller blocks and other zones have different limits, so confirm your lot area and zone first. Siting still matters too: setbacks apply, and a bush fire prone lot can bring extra requirements. Describe the shed’s use clearly on the plans so it is assessed correctly.
What setbacks apply to a rural house here?
On rural zoned land in Hermitage Flat, the Lithgow DCP sets a 20 metre setback to a public road. Where the block is 2 hectares or less, side and rear boundaries need 10 metres, rising to 20 metres on bigger blocks. A highway frontage needs a larger setback again. Rural controls apply to RU1, RU2, E3 and E4 land, plus R5 lots over 4,000 m2, while smaller R5 lots follow the urban section. Check your lot area and zoning before siting the house.
Will a new Hermitage Flat house need bushfire assessment?
Yes, if the bush fire prone land map covers your lot. A mapped lot needs a bushfire assessment, and the house must follow the state’s bushfire planning guideline, with construction standards matched to the assessed level. That can affect materials, glazing and access for fire trucks along the driveway, which the DCP already requires to be at least 3.5 metres wide on rural lots. Look up the map early, along with the mine subsidence and drinking water catchment checks, so the design fits the block.
Building in this suburb?
Send us the address first.
We check the local maps for your lot, confirm the approval path and quote in writing.