Building certification involves independently inspecting and approving construction work to ensure it meets safety, health, design and sustainability standards.
Building certifiers get to work on a variety of constructions from home renovations to high rises and commercial or industrial buildings. They get to manage their own time, be on site and in the office, and get to work with various building industry professionals, including local councils, builders, engineers, developers, architects, building designers, state agencies and property owners.
Building certifiers are accredited specialists who inspect and certify construction at critical stages, making sure it complies with the National Construction Code and other controls.
The cost of obtaining an approval varies on the complexity of your project and the required approval pathway. We provide competitive pricing tailored to your specific needs. For a detailed quote, please reach out to our team, and we'll be happy to provide a fee proposal. Contact us here.
Our processing times are amongst the best in the industry. Once lodged, we aim to issue your approval within 2-5 days depending on the complexities of your development. We will work closely with you to ensure we deliver your approval inline within your project's timeline. For a more accurate estimate, please contact us with details about your project. Contact us here.
A Registered Certifier plays a crucial role in ensuring that building projects comply with the National Construction Code and the relevant Australian Standards. They assess building plans, inspect construction work, and issue certificates at different stages of a project. There is often some confusion regarding the statutory role and responsibilities of Registered Certifiers. This release addresses the major myths surrounding certification in NSW.
Complying Development (CDC) is a fast-track approval process for development that complies with specific criteria set out in the State Environmental Planning Policy. CDC’s are a combined Planning and Building approval and are highly sought after, however, it is not applicable for all type of projects. The types of development that may be eligible for CDC include new dwellings and home renovations including pools and sheds and also some commercial developments including shop fit outs.
Homeowners and developers can use this guide to understand the legislative requirements for developing small scale residential projects, for example, building a new one or two storey home or home renovation.
A CC is required if a Development Application (DA) has been approved by Council; and must be obtained before any works have commenced onsite. It involves a detailed and thorough review and the development consent, approved plans and confirms that the projects comply with the National Construction Code. Once the CC has been issued work is legally able to commence onsite.
The Occupation Certificate authorises the occupation and use of a new building or building section.
To issue an Occupation Certificate, the Certifier must be satisfied the development meets various regulatory standards. These generally include that:
The NSW Planning Portal was introduced on 1 July 2021 and requires that all Construction Certificate, Complying Development Certificate and Occupation Certificate applications must be lodged to a Registered Certifier via the Portal. Principal Certifier Appointments must also be completed via the Portal. The NSW Planning Portal can be accessed here.
To lodge an application on the Planning Portal, we recommend following these steps:
1. Access the NSW Planning Portal: You can visit the NSW Planning Portal website to begin your application. You'll need an account to use the portal.
2. Account Setup: You can either use your existing Service NSW account or register for a NSW Planning Portal account if you don't have one.
3. Resources: See Resources Page for Planning Portal Resource Guides which will assist you with lodging your application.
If you encounter any issues or need assistance during the process, you can contact Service NSW at 1300 305 695 or email info@service.nsw.gov.au. They are ready to provide support and answer your questions.
Mandatory Critical Stage Inspections ensure that what has been approved in the development consent and construction certificate is in line with the development taking place. Critical stage inspections must be performed by an Accredited Certifier and include:
These inspections ensure that the construction aligns with approved plans, regulations, and compliance standards. Compliance with these mandatory inspections is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the building project.
Long Service Levy is a NSW Government fee, payable for building and construction projects costing $250,000 and above (inclusive of GST).
This is payable online here or at your Local Council office.
The levy is paid into a fund administered by the Long Service Corporation, and from this fund, the Corporation makes long service payments to building and construction workers.
Some minor building renovations or works don’t need any planning or building approval. This is called exempt development. Exempt development is very low impact development that can be done for certain residential, commercial and industrial properties.
A few examples of exempt development are: decks, garden sheds, carports, fences, repairing a window or painting a house.
More information regarding exempt development can be found here.
Accredited Certifiers do not check that tiles are laid square or that paint is applied properly or that doors swing without creaking or rubbing. Those tasks are the role of the site supervisor, foreman, or clerk of works (depending on the size of the job).
Accredited Certifiers are only required to carry out mandatory critical stage inspections as set out in the relevant legislation. These inspections are very limited and rely on the work completed by the tradesperson in a professional manner and ensure that the conditions of approval have been met.
According to the legislation, Accredited Certifiers are contracted and engaged only by the person with the benefit of the development consent, that is, the owners.
Furthermore:
It’s important to note that the same rules apply to all Accredited Certifiers, whether they are employed in a Council or by a private company.
In the same way that you can’t walk into a Council and say “here is a Development Application. I will pay you when it’s approved,” you can’t pay an Accredited Certifier after the event either. Payment must be made at the time of making the application. This is required by law for the exact purpose of making sure Accredited Certifiers don’t feel pressured to approve something or they won’t get paid.
There is no evidence of wrongdoing by the relevant Accredited Certifier in the Opal Tower structural defect matter, as found in the Opal Tower Investigation Final Report, which stated: “While it was not within the scope of our review to look closely at the certifications that took place on the Opal Tower, we found no evidence that the building certifiers had been deficient in regards to statutory expectations.”
Accredited Certifiers issuing building approvals are not responsible for self-certification, or self-regulation, and are prohibited by law to certify their own design work. Accredited Certifiers are however entitled to rely on, in good faith, other building professionals (such as structural engineers when approving structural design etc) and are also entitled to rely on certification by the licensed people doing the physical work to verify their work complies and has met the statutory requirements.
Unlike many building practitioners, including some builders, contractors, tradesmen, designers and installers, Accredited Certifiers are accredited by the NSW Government through the Building Professionals Board (The Board).
The Board accredits Accredited Certifiers to issue construction, occupation, subdivision, strata, compliance and complying development certificates under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act), Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Act 1973 and Strata Schemes (Leasehold Development) Act 1986.
To find out more about the role of Accredited Certifiers and AAC, visit: www.accreditedcertifiers.com.au