The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 requires that all of the Department’s current policy documents which affect or are likely to affect members of the public be made available on this website (unless there are overriding public interest reasons why that cannot be done or to do so would impose unreasonable additional costs on the agency.)
The list below provides links to copies of many policies. Where policies are grouped together the list simply names the collection, with a link to a relevant page. For example the entry Building System Circulars leads to the page on the website containing links to all current Building System Circulars.
Policies are being added to the list on a continuing basis. At present the list is not complete but that does not mean the policy you are seeking is not on the website. If a policy you need is not linked to a digital copy, or is not listed, and you cannot find it on the website, please contact the Public Access to Information Unit on 9228 6116 or 9228 6597. Please note that not all policies are in digital form due to cost.
The Act’s definition of policy does not include statutory instruments such as State Environmental Planning Policies, which are available on the NSW legislation website. Search under 'EPIs' (Environmental Planning Instruments).
From time to time other documents are tabled in the Parliament concerning the Department. These tabled documents are also available under DP&I Tabled documents.
Policy Documents
Building Regulation Advisory Notes - 1999 to 2004 (issued by Department of Local Government)
Building Systems Circulars - 2005 to date (issued by Department of Planning)
Circulars and practice notes
PN 09-001: LEP Practice Note PN 08 - 003 (revised)
PS 09-004: Circular - SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008
PS 09-005: Circular Proclamation of certain provisions of the EP&A Amendment Act and the EP&A A (Complying Development) Regulation
PS 09-006: SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 - Amendment No. 1
PS 09-012: Complying development—changes to Conveyancing Regulation, and guide to post-determination notification
PS 09-013: Complying development - changes to post-determination notification
PS 09-027: Implementation of the Metropolitan Strategy
Commercial and Industrial Code - Resources
Compliance
Compliance Policy
Contact protocols
Business Contact Form
Business Contact Protocol
Registered Lobbyist Contact Protocol
Registered Lobbyist Contact Form
Development Assessment
Compliance Program: Strategic Plan September 2003 / Audit Procedures September 2005
EPBC Act: Guide to implementation in NSW
Major Projects Assessments: Policies and Guidelines
Register of Development Assessment Guidelines
Aquaculture - What level of environmental assessment does aquaculture require? Act and Regulation Note
Upper Hunter Cumulative Impact Study and Action Strategy / Summary
Planning Focus Good Practice Guidelines
Fact sheets
Fact Sheet 1: Education and training
Fact Sheet 2: Interstate comparisons
Fact Sheet 3: Exempt development frequently asked questions
Fact Sheet 4: Cost savings
Fact Sheet 5: About accredited certifiers
Fact Sheet 6: Sustainability and the NSW Housing Code
Fact Sheet 7: Protecting neighbours rights
Fact Sheet 8: Preserving local character
Fact Sheet 9: Monitoring and Compliance Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet 10: Heritage protection
Fact Sheet 11: Introduction to the NSW Housing Code
Fact Sheet 12: Frequently Asked Questions from the Community Information Sessions
Fact Sheet 13: Frequently Asked Questions from the Council and Practitioner Workshops
Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009
Public Access to Information Procedures
Governance
Code of Conduct and Ethics
Complaints Handling Policy and Guidelines
Fraud and Corruption Control Policy
Privacy Management Plan
Guides, forms, standards and notices
Notice of Issue - Complying Development Certificate
Standard Requirements for GIS data for SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (version 1.4).
Local Exclusions nomination form
Local Variations nomination form
User Guide (NSW Housing Code Guide to Complying Development)
NSW Housing Code Information Brochure
Sources of Information (list of websites where further information can be found)
Equivalent Zones
Equivalent Zones for the application of State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008
Housing Code
Fact Sheet: 20 December 2010 - Planning circular - Changes to infrastructure SEPP and other EPIs
PS 09-027: Implementation of the Metropolitan Strategy
SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes 2008) PN 09-001: LEP Practice Note PN 08 - 003 (revised)
Land Release Policy
Biodiversity Certification - Growth Centres Conservation Plan - Exhibition Draft - for
more information go to http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/biocertification/notcert.htm
Aboriginal Heritage Protocol_APPENDIX A
Aboriginal Heritage Protocol_APPENDIX B
Aboriginal Heritage Protocol_Consultants Brief
Metropolitan & Regional Strategies
Integrating Land Use and Transport policy Package
Section 117 Direction 3.4 Integrating Land Use and Transport
Metropolitan Plan 2010
Geotechnical Policy for the NSW Alpine Resorts
Planning System Circulars
Regional policies
Hunter & Central Coast
Newcastle- Lake Macquarie Western Corridor Planning Strategy
Review of Industrial Employment Lands in the Throsby Area
Lower Hunter Regional Strategy
Draft North Wyong Structure Plan
Central Coast regional Strategy
Northern Region
Boundary Adjustments Policy
Draft Model Poultry Development Control Plan
Far North Coast Regional Strategy
Far North Coast region residential submarket analysis
Growing the Region's Connection - Situation Statement
Lord Howe Island Development Control Plan 2005
Mid North Coast Regional Strategy
Mid North Coast Farmland Mapping Project
Mid North Coast Farmland Protection Project Final Methodology Report 2008
North Coast Urban Design Guidelines
North Coast Design Guidelines
Northern Rivers Farmland Protection Project
Northern Rivers Farmland Protection Project Stage 2 Consultation Report 2004
Northern Rivers Farmland Protection Project Final Methodology Report 2005
Population Change New Eng Nth Wst Jan05
Tourism Development Near Natural Areas - Guidelines for the North Coast
Settlement Planning Guidelines Mid and Far North Coast regional Strategies
Southern Region
ACT & Sub-region 1998 Planning Strategy
Eurobodalla Settlement Strategy
JBSettlementStrategy
NSW Alpine Region Strategy
Twofold Bay_Draft 3 Part 1
Twofold Bay_Draft 3 Part 2
Sydney West Region
North West Subregional Strategy (Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Penrith LGAs)
South West Subregional Strategy (Wollondilly, Camden, Campbelltown, Liverpool LGAs)
West Central Subregional Strategy (Auburn, Bankstown, Fairfield, Holroyd, Parramatta LGAs)
Western Region
Draft Murray Regional Strategy
Sustainability/BASIX
Section 117 Directions that apply to planning proposals