Information required for development applications

When you submit an application through the NSW Planning Portal, you'll need to provide the following information:

• the name and address of the applicant
• a description of the development to be carried out
• the address and legal description of the land to be developed
• an indication of whether the land is ‘critical habitat’
• an indication of whether the development is likely to significantly affect threatened species, populations or ecological communities, or their habitats
• whether the development is a biodiversity compliant development
• a list of Concurrence bodies from which concurrence must be obtained before the development may lawfully be carried out in the case of an application that is accompanied by:
• biodiversity development assessment report, an indication of the reasonable steps taken to obtain the like-for-like biodiversity credits required to be retired under the report to offset the residual impacts on biodiversity values if different biodiversity credits are proposed to be used as offsets in accordance with the variation rules under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
• if the land is subject to a private land conservation agreement under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, a description of the kind of agreement and the area to which it applies
• a list of the approvals (as referred to in Section 4.46(1) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979) that must be obtained before the development can be lawfully carried out in regards to integrated development estimated cost of the development 
• evidence that the owner of the land on which the development is to be carried out consents to the application. For guidance on what constitutes satisfactory land owner’s consent please see our Owner(s) Consent Requirements Information Sheet (PDF, 356KB)

Your application will also need the following supporting documents:

• A site plan of the land
• Other plans of the development, including:
  • Floor plan
  • Section plans
  • Elevation plans
  • Notification plan set
• Statement of Environmental Effects 
• An environmental impact statement (in the case of designated development).
• A species impact statement (in the case of land that is, or is part of, critical habitat or development that is likely to significantly affect threatened species, populations or ecological communities, or their habitats, unless the development is Biodiversity Compliant).
• If the development involves any subdivision work, preliminary engineering drawings of the work to be carried out.
• If an environmental planning instrument requires arrangements for any matter to have been made before development consent may be granted (such as arrangements for the provision of utility services), documentary evidence that such arrangements have been made.
• If the development involves a change of use of a building (other than a dwelling-house or a building or structure that is ancillary to a dwelling-house and other than a temporary structure) the application must be accompanied by the documents specified in Schedule 1, Section 2(1)(i) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000.
• If the development involves building work to alter, expand or rebuild an existing building, a scaled plan of the existing building.
• If the land is within a wilderness area and is the subject of a wilderness protection agreement or conservation agreement within the meaning of the Wilderness Act 1987, a copy of the consent of the Minister for the Environment to the carrying out of the development.
• In the case of development comprising mining for coal (within the meaning of section 380AA of the Mining Act 1992) documentary evidence that the applicant holds an authority under the Mining Act 1992 in respect of coal and the land concerned or has the written consent of the holder of such an authority to make the development application.
• BASIX Certificate for BASIX affected development. If the development involves the erection of a temporary structure, the documents described in Schedule 1, Section 2(n) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. In the case of a development involving the use of a building as an entertainment venue or a function centre, pub, registered club or restaurant a statement that specifies the maximum number of persons proposed to occupy, at any one time, that part of the building to which the use applies.

This can be done by nominating the development as 'integrated development' on the development application form.

When a development is nominated as 'integrated development', we will refer the application to the relevant agency/s requesting their General Terms of Approval. 

To access integrated development referrals, the applicant needs to register for a NSW Planning Portal account. When we initiate the referral in the system, the applicant will be sent a request payment for the referral from the Planning Portal. 

You can register for the NSW Planning Portal to find out more about the online concurrence and referral service.

The estimated cost of development must be a genuine and accurate estimate of the cost of the proposed development. The estimate must account for certain costs for certain types of development, as follows:

• For development involving erecting a building:
• • the costs associated with constructing the building, and
  • the costs associated with preparing the building for the purpose for which it is to be used (such as the costs of plant, fittings, fixtures and equipment)

• For development involving carrying out a work (for example subdivision works), the construction costs of the work.

• For development involving demolition, the costs of demolition.

The estimated cost of work is required to reflect the 'market cost' of building materials and labour involved in carrying out the development.

We must be satisfied that the estimated cost of development is genuine and accurate before a development application can be accepted.

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment provide guidance on how to calculate the genuine estimated cost of development in their Planning Circular PS 21-022.

Development applications involving 'Regional Development' are required to provide the estimated Capital Investment Value (CIV) and the estimated cost of works. Clause 3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 defines CIV. The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment provide guidance on how to calculate CIV in their Planning Circular PS21-020.

A Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) Certificate cannot have been issued more than 3 months before a development application is made.

Where the development involves the enlargement or extension of a BASIX affected building, that contains more than one dwelling, a separate BASIX Certificate is required for each dwelling.

In the case of BASIX optional development - if the development application is accompanied by a BASIX certificate or BASIX certificates (despite there being no obligation under clause 2A for it to be so accompanied),  other documents as required by any BASIX certificate for the development needs to accompany the application.

Visit the NSW Planning Portal for more information about BASIX requirements.

A Site Plan must show:

• the location, boundary dimensions, site area and north point of the land
• existing vegetation and trees on the land
• existing levels of the land in relation to buildings and roads and the location and uses of buildings on sites adjoining the land
• proposed parking arrangements, entry and exit points for vehicles, and provision for movement of vehicles within the site (including dimensions where appropriate)
• proposed landscaping and treatment of the land (indicating plant types and their height and maturity), and
• proposed methods of draining the land.

Floor Plan

Floor plans must show the layout of any proposed building, partitioning, room sizes and the intended uses of each part of the building/s. Floor plans must be shown in relation to the land's boundaries and adjoining development.

Elevation Plan

Elevation plans must show the proposed external finishes and heights of any proposed buildings. 

Section Plan

Section plans must show the proposed external finishes, heights of any proposed buildings and the proposed finished levels of the land in relation to existing and proposed buildings and roads.

Notification Plan Set

In the case of development that involves the erection of a residential building, a plan of the building that indicates its height and external configuration, as erected, in relation to its site.

For assistance with preparing a Statement of Environmental Effects for the following development types, please see our Statement of Environmental Effects form.

• Dwellings
• Alterations & additions to dwellings
• Garages
• Awnings
• Carports
• Garden shed, Cabanas, Gazebos & Greenhouses
• Decks, Balconies, Patios & Pergolas
• Swimming Pool & Fence
   

For all other development types, please see our Statement of Environmental Effects Information Sheet(PDF, 332KB)

If the development involves a change of use of a building (other than a dwelling-house or a building or structure that is ancillary to a dwelling-house and other than a temporary structure) a Development Application must be accompanied by the documents specified in Schedule 1, Section 2(1)(i) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000.

These documents include the following:

i. a list of the Category 1 fire safety provisions that currently apply to the existing building, and

ii. a list of the Category 1 fire safety provisions that are to apply to the building following its change of use.

If the development involves the erection of a temporary structure, the documents described in Schedule 1, Section 2(n) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 are required to be submitted with a Development Application:

i. documentation that specifies the live and dead loads the temporary structure is designed to meet,

ii. a list of any proposed fire safety measures to be provided in connection with the use of the temporary structure,

iii. in the case of a temporary structure proposed to be used as an entertainment venue—a statement as to how the performance requirements of Part B1 and NSW Part H102 of Volume One of the Building Code of Australia are to be complied with (if a performance solution, to meet the performance requirements, is to be used),

iv. documentation describing any accredited building product or system sought to be relied on for the purposes of section 4.15(4) of the Act,

v. copies of any compliance certificates to be relied on.