What is Development Consent?
Development Consent is issued by your local council in most cases. It generally has a DA reference number, a date of endorsement, a date of expiration and will provide a list of conditions that must be adhered to while building your development. The Development Consent is also referred to as Development Approval (DA).

What is a Construction Certificate (CC)?
A construction certificate is an approval that certifies that the proposed building or subdivision work will comply with technical requirements such as the Building Code of Australia and Australian Standards. The construction certificate also certifies that any relevant conditions of development consent have been satisfied.

A construction certificate cannot be issued unless:

• The design and construction of the building (as shown in the construction certificate application and plans) is consistent with the development consent;
• The proposed building will comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA);
• The relevant conditions of the development consent have been complied with (i.e. provision of security deposits, payment of monetary contributions, compliance with conditions requiring modifications to the development or compliance with matters to be submitted to the council for assessment and determination); and
• A number of other relevant legislative provisions have been met

Conditions of consent cannot be imposed on a construction certificate. Therefore, plans and specifications must be fully detailed. These plans and specifications must comply with the development consent and they must show compliance with the relevant provisions of the Building Code of Australia and Australian Standards.
A copy of the certificate and associated plans and specifications must be forwarded to council within seven days.

What is a Complying Development Certificate (CDC)?
Complying Development is development, which must comply with a set of standards set by Council. With this type of Development a Complying Development Certificate application needs to be submitted to Council or an Accredited Certifier for approval. If a Complying Development Certificate is obtained, the applicant does not have to go through the Development Application process and does not have to apply for a Construction Certificate. The Complying Development Certificate serves as both.

What is an Occupation Certificate (OC)?
The Occupation Certificate authorizes the occupation and use of a new or altered building or, the occupation of "a change in building use" for an existing building. Only the nominated PCA can issue an Occupation Certificate. Prior to issuing an occupation certificate, the PCA must be satisfied that the construction works satisfy certain legislative requirements, such as the Building Code of Australia and that the building or nominated part of the building is suitable for occupation. Key considerations are structural adequacy, fire safety and the health, safety and amenity of future occupants of the building.

What is a compliance Certificate?
Compliance Certificates are certificates that are issued for particular parts of building work. For instance, a Compliance Certificate can be issued by an accredited engineer on footing construction to the effect that the footings are structurally adequate.

Compliance Certificates can also be issued certifying that conditions of consent have been complied with.

What is Accredited Certifier, Principal Certifying Authority (PCA)?
Accredited Certifier is responsible for issuing the Construction Certificate. This involves assessing the submitted information and supplying the approval to start building.

The Principal Certifying Authority (PCA) is responsible for inspecting building work during the construction phase of development. This is to ensure that the work is consistent with the development consent and construction certificate and to enable the issuing of an occupation certificate when the work is complete.

What is a notice of Commencement?
Following the issue of a Construction Certificate a Notice of Commencement is required to be provided to Council a minimum of two days prior to the commencement of any building works.
This formal notice to your relevant local Council provides details of the appointed PCA, i.e. "ACE Building Approvals", date of commencement of your proposed building works and the name and details of the nominated builder or owner builder.

Can the Owner nominate an Accredited Certifier as PCA after obtaining a Construction Certificate from the local council?
Yes. There is no requirement for the person proposing the development to use the Consent Authority or the Accredited Certifier who may have completed work on the Development Consent, Construction Certificate or Complying Development Certificate.

Occasionally an applicant will have used council to issue their Construction Certificate but due to various reasons, the applicant will often seek the professional service of an Accredited Certifier to complete the remaining certification of the project. Usually this second stage is the issuance of an Occupation Certificate and all of the critical stage inspections leading up this point.

What is Section 73 Certificate?
This is a contribution paid to council for multi unit residential sites as specified by council. In theory it is used for providing public facilities such as parks, library resources etc. The difference between a multi unit neighbour of a single dwelling paying the contribution is calculated by the theory that a multi unit development is increasing the population more than a single dwelling therefore the owner or developer must contribute financially to their local council.

What is Long Service Levy?
The New South Wales Parliament has put a levy on building and construction work costing $25,000 and above in New South Wales. The levy is paid by the owners of a building or construction project into a fund administered by the Building and Construction Industry Long Service Payments Corporation, and from this fund, the Corporation makes long service payments to building and construction workers.
The Levy is payable for building and construction projects costing $25,000 or more and is payable at local councils or at the Corporation.
The current levy rate is 0.35 % of the value of building and construction works costing $25,000 or more.

What is Owner Builder's Permit?
A Certificate issued by the Department of Fair Trading after successfully completing the Owner Builder's course run through TAFE. TAFE runs a short course supplying valuable information enabling the owner to undertake the role of builder and be aware of some of the risks associated with this role. On successfully completing this course a TAFE certificate will be issued with which to take to the Department of Fair Trading, pay a fee and be supplied the permit.

 

Building Professionals Board
http://www.bpb.nsw.gov.au/

NSW Department of Planning
http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/index1.html

NSW Housing Code
http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/planning_reforms/housing_code.asp

Long Service Payment Corporation
http://www.lspc.nsw.gov.au

NSW Fair Trading
http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/building/

Sydney Water
http://www.sydneywater.com.au

BASIX
http://www.basix.nsw.gov.au/information/index.jsp

Australian Institute of Building Surveyor
http://www.aibs.com.au

Engineers Australia
http://www.ieaust.org.au

NSW Legislation
http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au

Housing Industry Association
http://www.hia.com.au

Master Builders
http://www.masterbuilders.com.au/index.asp

NSW Fire Brigades
http://www.nswfb.nsw.gov.au

NSW Rural Fire Service
http://www.bushfire.nsw.gov.au