Development advice

We recommend seeking advice when you are planning your project as it could improve the determination timeframe and probability of approval. You may seek general or formal advice from us, or from an independent development professional.

Our free Development Advisory Service provides general planning advice, which includes:

• Explaining the development approval process.
• Identifying the planning controls and policies that affect your property.
• Identifying if your proposal is classified as: 
  • exempt development
  • complying development
  • local development
  • requiring consent
  • prohibited development.
• Explaining the process of applying for approval.

This service is available at our Customer Service Centres at Eastgardens and Rockdale, which are open:

• Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm

You can book a free meeting with a Development Advisory Officer by pressing the Book an appointment button. 

We recommend you meet with us for formal advice if you are planning a project that is large, complex or likely to be contentious in nature. This includes:

• Dual occupancies, 
• Multi-residential, 
• Mixed use development
• Major commercial or industrial development.

At a formal advice meeting we will:

• Undertake a detailed review of your plans.
• Outline any concerns or issues that may impact on the outcome of your application.
• Suggest changes to the design that may improve the likelihood of your application getting approval.

We will provide this advice in writing after the formal advice meeting.

You can seek general advice from our Development Advisory Service if you are unsure whether you should get formal advice. Press the Book an appointment button to discuss your project with our DA Officers.

Apply for formal pre-development advice by emailing a completed application form and any relevant checklist documents to Council, and pay a fee based on the cost of the development. Contact us for more information or a quote.

Seeking planning advice from an independent development professional like a draftsperson, architect or town planner can help you to prepare your plans before contacting us. Independent professionals are often experienced at working with councils and understand local controls and restrictions.

You can search for a development professional through:

• Planning Institute of Australia
• Australian Institute of Architects.

Press the buttons below to learn more about planning controls and restrictions, or to understand the application process after seeking advice. 
 

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