Development - FAQ's

Fees for development are found in Council's Goods and Services Fee Schedule, which can be found in related information section.

Fee's are generally based around the cost of the development proposal for Development Applications. They are calculated based on the size and complexity of a proposal for Construction Certificates and Complying Development Certificates.

For additional information regarding fee's please contact our Customer Service team for a quote over the phone. 

In most cases you will need to apply for approval to build.

From 1 July 2020, we will only be accepting development applications via the NSW Planning Portal https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/. Information on what is required to be submitted with your development application is currently being updated

You can still apply for a combined development application and construction certificate (DA/CC) with us. If you would like to apply for a DA/CC you will need to tick the box on the relevant Development Application Checklist. You can also appoint Council as your Principal Certifying Authority to who oversees the construction or subdivision process. More information on Council as your Principal Certifying Authority can be found here:  https://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Plan-build/Stage-5-Its-approved-the-next-steps/Our-certification-services

To apply for a Complying Development Certificate you will need to fill in the following form https://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/files/assets/public/buidling-and-planning/application-forms/cdc_application_form_sep_15-2.pdf More information on Lodging an Application for a Complying Development Certificate can be found here: https://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Plan-build/Stage-1-find-out/Approval-you-need#section-2

All building approvals since July 1998 are issued under the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979.

There are several types of development that affect particularly residential building construction, including:

• Exempt Development is minor development that does not require any approval.
• Complying Development is development that has low environmental impact and which can be certified as complying with predetermined standards.
• Local Development is development other than Exempt, Complying or State Significant Development, requiring the Consent of Council. Council must assess the merits of the Application, including any submissions, before deciding whether to approve or refuse a Development Application.

Please refer to the following Department of Planning and Infrastructure website for further information on the NSW planning system.

Certain types of minor developments, such as fences, pergolas, barbeques, are considered Exempt Development and thus do not need council approval as long as the proposal complies with the relevant criteria. For additional information it is available here.

Complying Development is development that has low environmental impact and which can be certified as complying with predetermined standards. A Complying Development Certificate can be issued either by Council or an Accredited Certifier.

Currently, a Complying Development Certificate can be issued for a proposal complying with the development standards nominated under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008.

For a detailed explanation of the Complying Development process, please refer our Complying Development webpage found here.

No. It is an offence under the provisions of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to commence work before Development Consent and a Construction Certificate or Complying Development Certificate have been issued.

Some areas of Blacktown are located within bushfire prone areas. Council has maps available for viewing at the Information Centre on the ground floor of the Civic Centre to assist in determining the impacts of bushland on your property. Further information on bushfire protection may also be obtained from the Rural Fire Service - www.rfs.nsw.gov.au

Any pool that was constructed after 1 August 1990 must be provided with a child resistant barrier such as a pool fence which complies with the requirements of Australian Standard 1926.

A pool is defined under the Swimming Pools Act 1992 as:

an excavation, structure or vessel:

• that is capable of being filled with water to a depth of 300 millimetres or more; and
• that is solely or principally used, or that is designed, manufactured or adapted to be solely or principally used, for the purpose of swimming, wading, paddling or other human aquatic activity,
• and includes a spa pool, but does not include a spa bath, anything that is situated within a bathroom or anything declared by the regulation not to be a swimming pool for the purposes of this Act
• Approval is required prior to the construction or installation of any new swimming pool or spa.

Council's Swimming Pool Guidelines provides a summary of the requirements for both new and existing pools and can be found to the right.

Council's  Swimming Pool Guidelines provides a summary of the requirements for swimming pool fencing for both new and existing pools. This can be found to the right.