What is complying development (CDC)?

Learn about the fastest way to get a small residential project approved.

Start your journey with a free CDC Guide.

If you've got questions about CDCs, grab our free CDC Guide! You will learn about the CDC process, what typologies are available, how to find and use the CDC rules, and the average DA & CDC processing times in your Council.

DA vs CDC

In NSW, most property developments such as new buildings and renovations require development consent from a consent authority. This consent can be given through a DA or a CDC.

Development application (DA)

DAs give Council a chance to fully consider whether they want to allow the proposal. The DA can be rejected if the Council does not support the proposal. This process often takes months even for small buildings like a single house.

Avg DA processing time = 75 days

For residential projects assessed by council officers

Complying development certificate (CDC)

For some specific development types on qualifying land, there is an alternate approval pathway called complying development. On this pathway, development will be automatically approved as a CDC if it meets certain pre-defined standards.

Avg CDC processing time = 22 days

For residential projects assessed by council officers

Housing types for complying development

The following housing types can be approved via CDC if they are permitted by the land zoning. Alterations, additions, and subdivisions may also be approved via CDC.

Secondary dwelling

A self-contained dwelling on the same lot as a principal dwelling.

Dwelling house

A building containing a single principal dwelling.

Dual occupancy

Exactly two independent dwellings on one lot (before subdivision), no matter how built.

Multi dwelling housing (terraces)

One lot (before subdivision) with 3 or more attached dwellings that each face a road and where no part of a dwelling is above another dwelling.

Manor Houses

A building with 3-4 dwellings, up to 2 storeys, and at least part of one dwelling above another dwelling.

Steps to get approval via CDC

Check permissibility of the zone

The housing type you want to build must be permissible with consent in the lot's zone. For example a zone of R2 Low Density Residential often permits dwelling houses and dual occupancies but not multi dwelling housing.

Our report confirms this permissibility for your lot and selected housing type.

Confirm the lot can have complying development

To be able to get a CDC on a particular lot, some general conditions must be passed by that land. A few examples include: the land can't have critical habitat, be a heritage item, or be in a coastal hazard or flood control area. There are many more beyond these ones.

Our report automatically checks most of these conditions for your lot.

Design in accordance with parameters for housing type

Work with the building designer to check all the parameters are being carefully followed. All of the specified design parameters must be complied with in order for a CDC to be issued. If any parameters cannot be complied with, a CDC is not possible and a DA must be done instead.

Our report clearly spells out the design parameters you will have to follow for your housing type.

Submit all documents to Council or private certifier

Either Council or an accredited private certifier can issue a CDC once they have validated the design is in compliance with the parameters. This can usually be done within a few weeks.

After you have our report, speak to a certifier to find out what documents you will need to submit.

Ready to get your CDC report?

Instantly order a complying development report covering all the necessary information for your lot and housing type.

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