NSW Housing Code Councils and Practitioners Information

Legislative documents

State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008  - current version

State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008  - consolidated version incorporating the changes that are to take effect from 7 September 2009

Important note: This is an unofficial version to indicate what the SEPP will look as a consequence of the amendments made by State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) Amendment (Commercial and Industrial) 2009. It does not constitute the law and must not be relied upon as law. From 7 September 2009, an official version of State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008, including the commercial and industrial amendments will be available from the NSW legislation website.

State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) Amendment (Commercial and Industrial Codes) 2009

Environmental Planning and Assessment (General Commercial and Industrial Code) Regulation 2009

Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Complying Development) Regulation 2009

Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Complying Development Certificates) Regulation 2009

Standard Instrument - Principal Local Environmental Plan

Circulars and practice notes

PS 09-022 Exempt and complying development codes - related regulation changes

PS 09-021 Changes to the exempt and complying development code

PS 09-020 Complying development - certifiers to follow Minister's directions on development contributions

PS 09-019 Changes to section 149(2) planning certificates by the Contaminated Land Management Amendment Act 2008

PS 09-013 Complying development - changes to post-determination notification

PS 09-012 Complying development—changes to Conveyancing Regulation, and guide to post-determination notification

PS 09-006 SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 - Amendment No. 1

PS 09-005 Circular Proclamation of certain provisions of the EP&A Amendment Act and the EP&A A (Complying Development) Regulation

PS 09-004 Circular - SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008

PN 09-001 LEP Practice Note PN 08 - 003 (revised)

Guides, forms, standards and notices

Advice to Neighbours - Works Commencing

GIS data for SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 

User Guide for complying development

Complying development checklist and guide

The Building Professionals Board, together with the Department of Planning, have developed a Checklist to assist council or accredited certifiers when assessing applications for Complying Development Certificates (CDCs) made under State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (the ‘Codes SEPP’). 

Complying Development Checklist – PDF 

The Checklist is accompanied by a Guide to the Complying Development Checklist that explains and adds details to a number of items in the Checklist. The Checklist must be read alongside the Guide.

This Guide will assist council or accredited certifiers when using the Complying Development Checklist to assess applications for Complying Development Certificates (CDCs) made under the Codes SEPP. 

Guide to Complying Development Checklist

Neither the Guide nor the Checklist replace the need for the council or accredited certifier to read and have a full understanding of the Codes SEPP.

Equivalent Zones

The Codes SEPP relies on the land use zones established under Standard Instrument—Principal Local Environmental Plan.
Click here to find out more about Standard Instrument for LEPs.

In circumstances where council has not yet made a LEP in accordance with the Standard Instrument, the Codes SEPP provides that complying development can be carried out on an equivalent zone. The Codes SEPP includes a guide to determining the equivalent zones under clause 1.6 (1) and allows the Director General of the Department of Planning to determine the equivalent zones.

 Click here to view or download tables for all NSW council equivalent zones under the code.

Have a question about NSW Housing Code?

NSW Housing Code Information Brochure 

If you have a question about the NSW Housing Code click here to contact the Department of Planning information centre.

To receive regular updates about the code, subscribe to eNews distributed by the Department.

Fact sheets

Amendments to the NSW Housing Code 

Overview of the NSW Housing Code 

Archive

05 August 2009: About accredited certifiers 

05 August 2009: Cost savings 

05 August 2009: Exempt development frequently asked questions 

05 August 2009: Frequently Asked Questions from the Council and Practitioner Workshops 

05 August 2009: Heritage protection 

05 August 2009: Introduction to the NSW Housing Code 

05 August 2009: Monitoring and Compliance Fact Sheet 

05 August 2009: Preserving local character 

05 August 2009: Protecting neighbours rights 

05 August 2009: Sustainability and the NSW Housing Code 

08 April 2009: Interstate comparisons 

25 March 2009 Media release: Government removes red tape for "DIY" home improvements 

27 February 2009 Legislative document: State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (Amendment No 1) 

20 February 2009 Fact sheet: Education and training 

03 February 2009 Media release: NSW Housing Code Implementation Workshops

12 December 2008 Media release: 10 Day Housing approvals under new State wide Code 

12 December 2008 NSW Housing Code launch video and presentation

Better Regulation Statement for the proposed State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 - Codes SEPP 

May 2008: Exhibited NSW Housing Code