Planning
Planning
Submitted by Ximena Dignam on

If you need to change / replace your appointed Principal Certifier, you will need to complete a new application within the Post-consent Certificate digital service on the NSW Planning Portal. This will ensure that the new Principal Certifier has access to the relevant applications.

When doing so, please ensure you select “Yes” to the question “Is this application to track transfer of Principal Certifier?”. Once you submit this new application, the newly nominated Principal Certifier will receive a notification to advise that you wish to appoint them as the Principal Certifier for your building works. If the nomination is accepted, the relevant consent authority will be advised, meeting the requirement under Section 57 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021.

Please view the Quick Reference Guide, How to appoint a Principal Certifier (PDF, 12.86 MB) for more information.

Submitted by Ximena Dignam on

In accordance with the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021, applicants are required to pay a digital application processing fee for certain planning applications and certificates. A full list of fees can be found on the NSW Planning Portal service fees page.

To pay a NSW Planning Portal service fee:

  1. Log in to the NSW Planning Portal.
  2. Open the related application from your Active Work dashboard.
  3. Click 'Pay now’ button and follow the on-screen instructions to make your payment.

Note: if you have been nominated as the payer within the application form but were not the applicant, you can access the application using the search functionality within the Portal using the application number. 

Submitted by Ximena Dignam on

The relevant fees are outlined in Schedule 4 and Part 13 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021. Information on the planning and development fees that apply in the financial year 2026/27 can be viewed in the schedule of fees and charges. A consent authority also publishes their fees for planning and development services. Once you submit an application, the relevant consent authority will advise of the applicable fees.

Fees vary based on the type of application. Fees for development applications, for example, are based on the estimated cost of development. Additional fees also apply for giving public notice of a development and for certain types of development such as designated development, integrated development, threatened species development, Class 1 aquaculture development, and applications that require design review panel advice. Fees may include a planning reform services fee (PDF, 82 KB). NSW Planning Portal service fees may also apply.  

Are there any other charges that apply?

Local infrastructure contributions are charged by councils when new development occurs. They help fund infrastructure like parks, community facilities, local roads, footpaths, stormwater drainage and traffic management. Speak to your council about the local contribution fees that may apply. Some development may also be required to pay a housing and productivity contribution.  

The long service levy applies to building and construction works of $250 000 or more, which is required to be paid prior to the release of a construction certificate or complying development certificate. Further information on this levy is available on the Long Service Corporation’s website.  

Why have fees changed for planning and development related services?

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 allows for the indexation of fees each year to reflect the consumer price index (CPI). This increase applies to fees contained in Schedule 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 that are based on fee units.  

Updating the fee unit each year in line with CPI changes means that fees will better reflect the cost of providing planning services. Increases will be gradual and the Department will advise of the fee unit that will apply each financial year, following release of the CPI that applies. The fee unit for the 2026/27 financial year is $118.55. 

Submitted by Ximena Dignam on

There is a system validation where a BASIX Certificate will need to be uploaded if the applicant answers Yes to the question “Do you have a BASIX Certificate?”. The selection of “yes” on the development application form will also identify a BASIX Certificate as a mandatory required for the related Construction and Occupation Certificate applications as they are linked applications.  

When reviewing a submitted development application or complying development application, please ensure that the content within the application is correct prior to lodgement. You will be unable to amend this information on the Construction or Occupation Certificate applications without contacting customer support. 

Submitted by Ximena Dignam on

To access the NSW Planning Portal (the Portal), you will need to be connected to a reliable internet connection as it is a web-based tool.

It is recommended to use Google Chrome version 66.0 or higher. Other browsers that support the Portal are:

  • Safari
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Microsoft Edge 44.0

Please note, in 2022 Microsoft discontinued support for IE 11 and lower versions. As a result, Internet Explorer is not supported by the Portal.

You can now view the Portal on the following compatible mobile devices, but most services are optimally viewed on a desktop browser:

  • Google Android OS devices
  • Apple OS devices
  • Windows OS devices (Microsoft Edge)

If you are having trouble accessing the Portal, please Contact us.

Submitted by Ximena Dignam on

When you create a NSW Planning Portal account, the system will automatically send a validation email to the email address entered. This will be sent from email address [email protected]. If it is not in your inbox, please check your junk or spam email folders.

We are unable to resend the validation email. If it is not received, please add the email address [email protected] to your contact list and register once again.

Submitted by Ximena Dignam on

When you enter an address, it will be validated against the registered address database. You must select an address from the list that is displayed. When selecting a registered address, a map will display on the right-hand side of the screen with site information including the relevant local government area (LGA) on the left.

If the address does not appear in the list, select the ‘Address did not display?’ checkbox and enter the details manually. This will disable the predictive text feature and map functionality.

Submitted by Ximena Dignam on

An application can only be accessed in the NSW Planning Portal by the creator of that application.

You may have received an email notification about the application as you are the owner/applicant, but you will be unable to access the application unless you created it or have been nominated as the payer. Note: If you have been nominated as the payer within the application form, you can access the application using the search functionality within the Portal.  

The best option is to talk to the person who created the case on your behalf in the Portal (possibly your architect or a town planner) and ask them what is required of you.

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