How it works · Class 1 & Class 10
Our certification process
From the first quote to the day you get the keys, every job moves through the same stages. This page walks through each one, who is responsible for what, and what has to be in place before the next step can begin.
The big picture
Seven stages, one certifier the whole way
New house, granny flat or pool, the order rarely changes. Plans get checked, the application goes in, a certificate is issued, the build is inspected at set points, and a final certificate confirms it can be used. Knowing the order early saves weeks of back and forth.
Compare the approval routesWho appoints us
The owner, or whoever holds the approval. Never the builder.
Where it is lodged
The NSW Planning Portal, fully online
Inspection notice
At least 48 hours before each stage
The finish line
An OC before anyone moves in or swims
The seven stages
Step by step, from quote to keys
Stages 1 to 5 happen before a shovel hits the ground. Stages 6 and 7 run alongside the build.
01
Quote and scope
Send us the site address, your plans and a short description of the work. We confirm the likely approval route and send a written fee quote before anything starts.
02
Plan assessment
Your design is tested against every code your site is subject to, including bushfire, flood and heritage controls. You get a list of anything to fix, so the application goes in complete.
03
Lodgement
We lodge the application and its supporting documents through the NSW Planning Portal. If anything is missing, we send a request for information that lists everything still needed.
04
Assessment and neighbour notice
For a CDC in Sydney's metropolitan area, neighbours within 20 metres must be told 14 days before it can be approved. Under a DA, council grants consent first, then we check the CC plans against those conditions and the building code.
05
Certificate issued, ready to start
Once the CDC or CC is issued and we are appointed principal certifier, council needs 2 days' notice of the start date. Insurance or an owner-builder's permit, plus any levy, must also be sorted.
06
Critical stage inspections
Each stage the regulation names gets a site visit, from footings to waterproofing and stormwater. Every visit is followed by a written result, so the builder knows straight away whether to proceed.
07
Final inspection and OC
At practical completion, we carry out the final inspection and review the completion paperwork. If it all checks out, we issue the occupation certificate and the home or structure is ready for use.
During the build
The inspections your build will need
For houses and Class 10 structures, these are the points where work stops until the certifier has seen it. Not every job has every stage.
01
Before footings
Once digging is done and before any footing is placed, so the ground and set-out can be checked.
02
Before a concrete pour
Reinforcement is checked against the engineer's design before in-situ concrete goes in.
03
Frame
Floor, wall and roof framing is inspected before linings or cladding hide it.
04
Wet areas
Waterproofing in bathrooms, laundries and similar rooms is checked before tiles cover it.
05
Stormwater
Drainage connections are inspected before they are backfilled or covered.
06
Final
The finished work is inspected before the OC. Pools also need a check once the safety barrier is up.
Who does what
Who looks after what
A smooth job depends on each party doing its part at the right time.
Owner
- Appoints the principal certifier and signs the owner's consent
- Pays approval fees, contributions and the long service levy where it applies
- Tells us whether the work is by a licensed builder or an owner-builder
- Waits for the OC before anyone lives in the home or swims in the pool
Builder
- Holds home building compensation cover on jobs over $20,000 before taking a deposit
- Builds exactly as the stamped plans and conditions show
- Books each inspection with at least 48 hours' notice
- Supplies certificates and test reports needed at completion
CertifiBuild
- Assesses the plans and issues the CDC or CC
- Acts as principal certifier for the build
- Carries out the critical stage inspections and reports in writing
- Issues the occupation certificate once the work complies
Questions
Common questions about the process
Quick answers on timing, appointments and inspections.
Call us on 02 8896 4391How long does the whole process take?
There is no single timeframe, because the approval route, the completeness of your documents and the length of the build all vary. NSW guidance says a complete complying development certificate (CDC) application can be determined in as little as 20 days. A development application (DA) usually takes longer, since council decides it before a construction certificate can follow. In metropolitan Sydney, a CDC also has a 14 day neighbour notice period before approval. Construction time sits with your builder. Lodging a complete application is the step most within your control.
Can my builder choose the certifier?
No. In NSW, the principal certifier is chosen by the landowner or by whoever holds the approval. A builder must not make the appointment and must not sway your choice. Your builder may still suggest names, but the decision and the written contract belong to you. That contract includes a government information sheet and asks you to confirm the choice was yours. Once work starts, builders still have a role, booking inspections and supplying certificates, but they work with the certifier rather than engage one.
Can work start the day the CDC is issued?
Usually not. A complying development certificate (CDC) is only the approval, and a few steps must follow before work begins on site. You need to appoint a principal certifier, then give council at least 2 days' notice of the start date. In metropolitan areas, each neighbour within 20 metres must receive notice at least 7 days before the job starts. Any pre-start conditions, such as paying a levy, arranging home building insurance or obtaining an owner-builder permit, must also be satisfied. Build these steps into your program before booking excavation.
Is a CC required on top of a CDC?
No. A complying development certificate (CDC) covers both the planning side and the building side in one go, so no construction certificate (CC) is added on top. The CC sits on the development application (DA) path, where council grants consent and the CC then tests the construction drawings for code compliance and for consistency with the consent conditions. A project that misses the CDC standards needs both the DA consent and a CC before building begins. On either path, you still appoint a principal certifier. A plan assessment will show which path fits your project.
What happens if we miss an inspection?
Tell your principal certifier the moment you realise. Once a stage is covered it is hidden from view, so a skipped critical stage inspection can delay the occupation certificate (OC) or prevent it. The certifier may proceed only if satisfied that missing the stage could not be avoided and that the concealed work complies. You may be asked for an engineer's certificate, photos or for some linings to be opened up, yet none of these settles the matter automatically. Nothing can make up for a missed final inspection. Give at least 48 hours' notice for every stage.
When can we move in?
Only after the occupation certificate (OC) has been granted. Your principal certifier signs it off after a successful final inspection, once completion paperwork such as waterproofing and smoke alarm certificates has been received. A new pool follows the same rule and must not be swum in until it is certified. On staged work, an OC may cover only part of a building, so read what each certificate includes before anyone moves in. Collecting trade certificates throughout the build helps the last step go smoothly.
Keep reading
Related pages
Guides
Certification process guides
From quote to occupation certificate: how certification runs
How long does building certification take?
What affects building certification fees
Next step
Ready to get started?
Send us your plans and site address. We will confirm the likely route, the fee and the first step.