Lodge a development application

Step 1.Check you need approval

You don't need consent for some minor development projects. Some may be eligible for an exemption or a fast-tracked assessment. Find out whether you need approval.

Step 2.Get help preparing your application

When preparing applications for small residential development:

• new houses
• alterations and additions to houses
• secondary dwellings i.e. granny flats
• dual occupancies

please refer to the NSW Government's Your guide to the development application process.

You can also get general advice on the planning process by speaking to our Duty Officer. 

Step 3.Get your documents ready

Use our applications requirement tool for a quick guide to the information you will be required to submit. To complete your online application you will need to submit a Statement of environmental effects, Owner's consent and a Cost estimate report.

Find out more about the information required.

Step 4.Register for an account with the NSW Planning Portal

 As of 1 January 2021 all development related applications can only be submitted to a council online via the NSW Planning Portal. This includes:

• Development Applications (DA) 
• Application to modify a DA 
• Request to review a DA
• Complying Development Certificate Applications
• Construction Certificate Applications
• Application for Occupation Certificates
• Civil Works / Subdivision Construction Certificates
• Subdivision Certificates
• Building Information Certificates
• Registration of Private Certifier Certificates

You will need to register for an account with the NSW Planning Portal to access and submit these forms.

Step 5.Log in and submit your application

Register for an account then log in and submit your application.

To understand how to use the NSW Planning Portal refer to the NSW Planning Portal's Quick Reference Guides.

For technical issues with using the NSW Planning Portal contact Service NSW’s Support Service.

Go to the NSW Planning Portal

Step 6.Your application is reviewed

We review your application to make sure it meets the requirements for lodgement and all the relevant information has been included.

We reject incomplete applications. Find out more about why we may reject an application.

Step 7.If accepted you pay the fees

Once your application has been assessed as suitable for lodgement you will need to pay the associated fees.

Visit the fees for development applications page for more information about the fees you will need to pay.

The application is not taken to be lodged until all required information has been supplied and required fees have been paid. 

Step 8.Your application is assessed

We will contact you to discuss our preliminary assessment. We will then assign an assessment officer to complete a detailed assessment.

You can track key milestones in the process using Council's DA Tracker.

If additional information is requested you must provide it via the NSW Planning Portal in a timely manner.

Find out more about the development assessment process.

Step 9.If approved you receive consent

If we approve your application you will receive a development consent. A development consent can be either unconditional or subject to conditions. A development consent is a legal document. You must construct and operate the development according to any conditions in the consent.

Find out more about determinations of development applications.

If not approved

If your application is not approved the applicant may request that we review our determination. Requests to review determinations must be made and considered in accordance with Division 8.2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

If you are still dissatisfied with our determination of a development, you can lodge an appeal to the Land and Environment Court under Division 8.3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. 

Find out more about the development assessment process, how decisions are made and the legislative framework that governs development in NSW.

Step 10.Next steps

Once you have consent you'll need a Construction Certificate before you can begin any building or subdivision work. You will also need a Principal Certifying Authority who will issue you with an Occupation Cerificate, the last step in the formal DA process. 

Find out what you have to do before you start construction.

Step 1.Do your own initial research

To understand how State and local planning legislation and policies set the rules that control what development can occur on your land visit the development framework page. 

You can find the planning controls and guidelines and use our online mapping tool to find information about land-based constraints, services and planning controls, including zoning. 

You can also find the growth strategies and place strategies and plans that apply to development in the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area.

Step 2.Get help preparing your application

For any developments other than small residential (houses, alterations to houses and granny flats) we recommend that you hire a town planning consultant to prepare your application. 

You can book a Pre-DA lodgement meeting with Council to get preliminary feedback on complex development applications.

Step 3.Have your documents ready

To complete your online application you will need to submit a Statement of environmental effects, Owner's consent and a Cost estimate report. You may be required to submit further documents to support your development application.

Find out more about the information required.

Step 4.Register for an account with the NSW Planning Portal

 As of 1 January 2021 all development related applications can only be submitted to Council online via the NSW Planning Portal. This includes:

• Development Applications (DA)
• Application to modify a DA
• Request to review a DA
• Complying Development Certificate Applications
• Construction Certificate Applications
• Application for Occupation Certificates
• Civil Works / Subdivision Construction Certificates
• Subdivision Certificates

If you do not already have an account you will need to register for an account with the NSW Planning Portal. 

To understand how to use the NSW Planning Portal refer to the NSW Planning Portal's Quick Reference Guides.

For technical issues with using the NSW Planning Portal contact Service NSW’s Support Service.

Step 5.Log in and submit your application

Once you have an account you will need to log in to submit your application. 

Go to the NSW Planning Portal

You can submit additional information via the NSW Planning Portal after you have submitted.

Step 6.Your application is reviewed

Your application will be reviewed to make sure it meets the requirements for lodgement and all the relevant information has been included.

If your application is assessed as incomplete Council will reject it. Find out more about why Council may reject an application.

Step 7.If accepted you pay the fees

Once your application has been assessed as suitable for lodgement you will be required to pay the associated fees.

Visit the fees for development applications page for more information about the fees you will need to pay.

The application is not taken to be lodged until all required information has been supplied and required fees have been paid. 

Step 8.Your application is assessed

Council will do a preliminary assessment and contact you to discuss the outcomes of this. Your application will then be assigned to an assessment officer for a detailed assessment.

If additional information is requested it must be provided by the applicant via the NSW Planning Portal in a timely manner. Council will only communicate directly with the applicant.

You can track key milestones in the process using Council's DA Tracker.

Find out more about the development assessment process.

Step 9.If approved you receive consent

If your application is approved by Council you will receive a development consent, which will be either unconditional or subject to conditions. A development consent is a legal document and the development approved under the development consent must be constructed and operated in accordance with the requirements of the conditions.

Find out more about determinations of development applications.

If not approved

If your application is not approved you may, as the applicant, request that Council review its determination. Requests to review determinations are required to be made and considered in accordance with Division 8.2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

If you are still dissatisfied with Council's determination of a development, you can lodge an appeal to the Land and Environment Court under Division 8.3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. 

Step 10.Next steps

Once you have consent you'll need a Construction Certificate before you can begin any building or subdivision work. You will also need a Principal Certifying Authority who will issue you with an Occupation Cerificate, the last step in the formal DA process. 

Find out what you have to do before you start construction.