Council can request a DCA referral check either before an application has been lodged, or after the application has been lodged and the application is under assessment. 

• Read more about At what point during the assessment of a development or modification application can I invite the DCA for a referral check?

You can contact the Development Coordination Authority (DCA) on email [email protected] or phone (02) 9228 2820. 

• Read more about How can I contact the Development Coordination Authority?

There will be impacts to the Online DA v2, Online State DA and Common inbound APIs. 
You can access the relevant API release notes below which outline the impacted operations, attributes and any actions:

•    Online Development application service v2 and Common inbound API
•    State Development application service API v2
 

Temporary backward compatibility support will be provided from 1 July 2026 to assist with the transition. This will allow existing council integrations and development application service lodgement processing to continue operating. 
We will be removing the backward compatibility in 2027 and will provide a further update once available. To stay informed we encourage you to subscribe to our API communications mailing list.   

• Read more about Will the changes to the workflow in the Online DA and State DA services impact the APIs?

Please discuss this with the relevant industry association. We cannot advise whether the training course can be counted toward continuing professional development programs. 

The Department does not provide a Certificate of Attendance to those that attend a NSW Planning Portal training session. However, we can confirm your attendance to support a continuing professional development claim. 

To request this, please send an email to [email protected] with the title ‘Request for CPD confirmation’. Please include the name and date of the training you attended, along with your name. Note: This needs to match the name you registered under. We will review the training records, and where relevant confirmation your attendance.

• Read more about I recently attended a training session on the NSW Planning Portal. Can my attendance be counted toward continuing professional development?

Before you can de-activate a user account, you will need to re-assign any applications currently assigned to that user. 

Once this has been completed, an organisation administrator can de-activate the account. 

For step-by-step instructions, please view How to manage your organisation administration account (PDF, 1.46 MB).  

• Read more about A staff member has left the organisation. Why can’t I de-activate their user account?

To access the NSW Planning Portal digital services, you will need a NSW Planning Portal account. To create an account:

1. Open the NSW Planning Portal
2. Click on 'My Account' in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
3. Click the 'Create account' link to start the registration process.
4. Complete the required information.

If you require further assistance, please refer to 'How to register for a NSW Planning Portal account (PDF, 639 KB)' for step-by-step instructions. 

• Read more about How do I create a NSW Planning Portal account?

To reset your password:

1. Open the NSW Planning Portal.
2. Click on 'My Account' in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
3. Click the 'Forgot password' link.
4. Enter the email address related to your NSW Planning Portal account and click ‘Send verification code’.
5. An email will be sent to your nominated email address with a verification code. Enter the code received in your email into the secondary verification code field.
6. Once verified, select ‘Change’ and input a new password for your account. If your password is accepted, you will be able to re-login to your account.

Remember, for all passwords, the following requirements apply:

• it must be at least eight characters long
• it must have a maximum of 16 characters
• it must contain three of the four options below:
  • uppercase letters (A through Z)
  • lowercase letters (a through z)
  • numbers (0 through 9)
  • the following non-alphabetic characters can be used: ~! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _ + - = { } [ ] | \ : ; “ ‘ < > ? , . / 
• passwords cannot be your email address.

• Read more about How do I reset my NSW Planning Portal account password and are there any important password requirements?

The development types are standard across all NSW Local Government Areas. This reflects the requirements of the Standard Instrument Local Environmental Plan and other relevant legislation.

• Read more about Are the development types standard across NSW or tailored to individual council areas?

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. 

• Read more about Where can I find the fees for my application, and how are they calculated?

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.

• Read more about What is the best internet browser and device to use for the NSW Planning Portal?