Prepare your application

Four steps to preparing a DA

Step 1.Be sure to understand what development rules apply or talk to the Duty Planner

Step 2.Prepare plans, drawings and other material according to the requirements of the DA Submission Matrix(PDF, 360KB).

The DA Guide (see below) has a checklist to help identify what documents you need. Please ensure the DA Owner's Consent form(PDF, 203KB) is signed and uploaded to the NSW Planning Portal with every application. In addition, the Development Cost Estimate form(PDF, 227KB) should be completed and uploaded for all Development Applications submitted through the NSW Planning Portal.

Step 3.Prepare the Statement of Environmental Effects

- this must explain your work and the impacts caused.

Step 4.Complete and lodge your application and pay the fees


Development Application (DA) Guide

Our DA Guide and attachments can guide you through the steps listed above.


Why spend more money on good quality plans?

All plans must be drawn to scale and comply as a minimum with Australian Standard AS1100 Technical Drawing. If you start your project with poor quality plans lacking detail or with inaccuracies then you can be assured that the application process will be slower and it is more likely that such plans will deliver a poor quality outcome.

The plans should be based on an accurate and detailed Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) survey plan from a Registered Surveyor. If your architect is drawing plans by hand they may be accepted, but we actively encourage CAD based plans because they are far more accurate. Drafting errors which could cost you thousands of dollars to fix during the building process are far less likely in the CAD environment.

We don't expect Construction Certificate level, 1:50 detailed cross sections at the DA stage unless urban design detail is an issue, but you should make sure that your architect is briefed to work up these details for the Construction Certificate stage. Simple things like flashing details for windows, doors, uncovered deck/terraces and wet area detailing all contribute to getting it right during the building process. Never leave it to the builder to decide on these issues. Your money is better spent getting the details right on the plans than spending thousands fixing building defects which may not show up for months or years after the builder has gone.