Development can be categorised into three different types:
Exempt development is very low impact development that can be done for certain residential, commercial and industrial properties. A few examples include: decks, garden sheds, carports, fences, repairing a window or painting a house. As long as the proposed works meet all of the development standards (identified in the State Policy for exempt and complying development), approval may not be needed.
Complying development is development that has a greater impact than the exempt development options, but is still considered to have minor environmental impact on neighbourhood amenity, which can be addressed by predetermined development criteria.
Complying development is a combined planning and construction approval for straight forward development that can be determined by Council or a private accredited certifier. Complying development applies to homes, businesses and industry as well as allowing for a range of things like the construction of a new dwelling, alterations and additions, new industrial buildings, demolition of a building and changes to business use. Generally this process is via a fast track pathway process as the application is generally determined within 10-20 days.
Complying Development requires self-assessment prior to lodging an application to ensure that Complying Development standards have been met. There is no leniency to the development standards, where a development cannot meet these standards a traditional Development Application is required to be made to Council.
This is development requiring a traditional Development Application as the project may have a level of environmental
impact such as heritage and river front area impacts. This process involves a merit-based assessment and is generally intended for projects that require notification and consultation with the neighbouring properties and the broader community to ensure the community can have their say.
The consent authority (Council and private certifiers) that assess and determine Development Applications (DA’s) and Complying Development Certificates (CDC’s) is guided by legislation such as the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979, the State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs) and Local Environmental Plan (LEP).
The majority of Exempt and Complying Development types and their development standards are specified under:
For more information regarding exempt and complying development you can download the fact sheet or view the State Environmental Planning Policy for exempt and complying development.
Contact the Codes Hotline by telephone on 13 77 88 or by email codes@planning.nsw.gov.au.
22 Alexandra Street, Hunters Hill NSW 2110
PO Box 21, Hunters Hill NSW 2110
Tel: (02) 9879 9400
E: customerservice@huntershill.nsw.gov.au
ABN: 75 570 316 011
We acknowledge that The Wallumedegal people of the Eora Nation are the Traditional Custodians of this land.