Complying development

Sutherland Shire Certification Services (SSCS) is responsible for issuing complying development certificates both within Sutherland Shire and now throughout southern Sydney. 

Complying development is development that meets predetermined standards contained within local environmental plans, development control plans or state environmental planning policies.

Complying Development Certificates can be issued for a variety of developments including new houses, secondary dwellings, residential alterations and additions and alterations to commercial and industrial buildings, pools, awnings, carports, garages, demolition, changes of use and fencing.

On 27 February 2009, the State Government introduced the NSW Housing Code through State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008. Subsequent amendments have introduced the Housing Internal Alterations Code and the Commercial and Industrial Code both of which also provided for complying development.

Applicants, until 31 December 2010, will have a choice under which document they will apply for their complying development certificate. From 2011 applications will only be able to be made under the NSW Housing Code except as noted below.

Other state policies that provide for different categories of complying development are the Affordable Rental Housing and Infrastructure policies

Under all these documents, if an application meets all the standards, a complying development certificate can be issued instead of a development consent and construction certificate. The costs and time associated with a complying development certificate are substantially less than those associated with development applications.

Our turnaround times for these types of applications average less than five (5) days.

SSCS has developed checklists which address the standards for the Sutherland Shire Local Environmental Plan 2006, NSW Housing Code and the Commercial and Industrial Code.

These checklists and our application form can be obtained through our Customer Service Centre by ringing 02 9710 0333 or on the checklists and application form page of this website.

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