Lodge a Development Application (DA) / s4.55 Modification

From 1 January 2021, Council only accepts online applications via the Department of Planning, Industry & Environment (DPIE)’s ePlanning Portal.

Please do not post/lodge your hard-copy applications to Council.

Online

Step 1.Create/log into your account

Register an account and apply your DA via Department of Planning, Industry & Environment’s ePlanning Portal.

For help, refer to the Department of Planning, Industry & Environment’s Quick Reference Guides.

If you require assistance using the Planning Portal, and you were unable to find the answer from Help and Support section, contact ServiceNSW on 1300 305 695 or email info@service.nsw.gov.au.

Step 2.Complete all necessary attachments

You must complete and attach Council’s relevant application form, DA Checklist(s) and relevant Cost Summary Report as part of your submission.

Application forms with owners consent

DA Checklists

Cost Summary Report

Documents Submission Guideline

Important note: If you do not submit the completed relevant forms/checklists/cost summary report above,your “submitted” DA / s4.55 application will be returned  to you.

Step 3.Create a new online DA or s4.55 Modification

Create a new electronic application (eApplication) and fill in the application details by following the prompts online.

For help, use this quick reference guide from the Department of Planning, Industry & Environment.

Step 4.Upload all necessary attachments

Once you have entered most of the application details, you will be prompted to upload documents, use the same quick reference guide to assist you in uploading files.

Please follow Council’s Electronic Application Requirements for guidance on how to prepare your digital files, particularly to ensure you name your files within 100 characters, save them in PDF format and limit the size of your files to 300MB as the Portal will not accept the files not following this requirement

Step 5.Review all application details and uploaded documents

Please note carefully the declaration statements you check in the checkboxes before submitting your application.

Once submitted, you will receive an acknowledgement email regarding your submitted application.

Important note: your “submitted” DA via the Portal is not considered "formally lodged" until Council advises in writing via post/email or “accepts” it via the Portal and upon payment of application fees.

Step 6.Wait for Council’s review

Council will review your application and assesses whether or not your eApplication is acceptable.

You will be advised in writing via the email to provide additional information or pay the relevant application fees as required.

Step 7.Provide additional information

If your eApplication is:

  1. inadequate, you may be requested for Additional Information in a letter sent via an automatically generated email from the Portal.
  2. substantially inadequate, your application will be returned to you (with reasons) via the Portal.
  3. adequate, you will be advised by a formal “Fee Request Letter” sent directly via Council’s email

Step 8.Pay the required fees

Pay your required fees as advised by the “Fee Request Letter” via the methods specified on the letter.

Your eApplication will then be lodged and registered onto Council’s computer system.

Step 9.Preliminary Assessment

The lodged documentation is checked by the Development Assessment Review Team. They may request more information further down the track, refer the DA to other officers and allocate a DA Assessment Officer.

They may also reject the DA and return it to the applicant.

A preliminary assessment by the Assessment Officer, including a site inspection, is generally made within 2 to 3 weeks upon lodgement. The applicant is advised of any issues and may be requested to consider amendments.

Step 10.Public Notification

In accordance with Council’s Community Participation Plan, a notification schedule is prepared and is usually a 14 to 28 days notification period.

Members of the public can make a submission and all submissions will be publicly available through Council’s Application Tracking.

A yellow DA Notification sign is to be placed on site by the applicant and the DA is included on the notification listing on Council’s website.

By the end of the notification period, the applicant is to email Council a completed Declaration Form(PDF, 123KB)  with a dated photograph confirming the sign has been displayed for the required period.

Note: From 29 November 2019, the applicant is responsible for displaying the Notification Sign on site for its related Development Application (DA).

Step 11.External and Internal Referrals

If applicable, your application may require concurrence or referrals to external government agencies via the ePlanning Portal.

Additional payment to the relevant Agencies will be required and communications between Applicant / Council / Agencies related to these external agency referrals will be interacted online via the Portal. (e.g. additional information requested by the Agencies that you may need to respond to)

Internal referrals to other sections within Council would also occur at this stage.

Step 12.Public Submissions and Referrals Considered

The notification period closes and the Assessment Officer collects public submissions and government/internal referrals received. And these are considered.

Step 13.Assessment Report is prepared

The Assessment Officer discusses the proposal with the applicant to resolve any outstanding issues.

Your DA may be assessed/determined at different levels, depending on the criteria linked below:

  1. to be referred the DA to the Sydney North Planning Panel (SNPP)
    [Criteria for SNPP]
  2. to be referred the DA to the Willoughby Local Planning Panel (WLPP)
    [Criteria for WLPP](PDF, 34KB) 
  3. determine the DA by delegation from Council’s CEO

Based on the decision, the Assessment Officer undertakes a detailed assessment and prepares one of the above reports.

Reports will detail submissions received and any draft conditions of consent or reasons for refusal.

Step 14.Notice of Determination

Notice of Determination will be issued via the Portal advising an Approval subject to conditions of consent or a Refusal with reasons.

Council will not contact individual correspondents to advise them when an application is to be determined under delegated authority.

However, Council will inform via email to applicants and correspondents when the DA is for WLPP determination by public meeting.

Step 15.Get a Construction Certificate (CC)

If the development consent is granted, the applicant will need to apply to the Council or a Private Certifier for a Construction Certificate in order to commence construction of works.

The applicant can apply for an amendment to the development consentunder Section 4.55 of EPA Act 1979. A similar process to the DA process occurs for modification of a consent.

Step 16.Appoint your PC

Once your CC is issued, you will have to further appoint a Certifier (Council or Private) as the Principal Certifier (PC) to inspect the works.

Step 17.Carry out the Work

Carry out the works as required, ensuring mandatory inspections are carried out by the Certifier.

Step 18.Get an Occupation Certificate (OC) 

Obtain an Occupation Certificate before you occupy the new development.