Building Information Certificate

A Building Information Certificate is a document sought if it is suspected work has been undertaken without the appropriate approvals being issued by Council or a registered certifier. A Building Information Certificate states that Council will not take any of the following actions for a period of 7 years for the building covered by the certificate:

demolish, alter, add to or rebuild
resolve any encroachment by the building onto land under the control of Council.

A Building Information Certificate is usually requested by buyers or sellers of property before settlement to make sure that what is being bought or sold is not going to be the subject of action by Council.

Building Information Certificate application requirements

A Building Information Certificate application may be requested for either a part or whole of a building and may be requested by:

The owner of the property
Another person, with the consent of the owner of the property
The purchaser of a property under a contract of sale (including the purchaser's solicitor or agent)
A public authority that has notified the owner of its intention to apply for the certificate.

A Building Information Certificate application is to include an original or certified copy of a survey report and plan if it is related to residential zoned land. For land situated in other zones you may also be required to provide a survey report.

The survey report and plan must represent the property and buildings as existing at the time of submitting the application. Additional information may also need to be provided (including building plans, specifications and certificates) to allow Council to assess the application.

How to apply online

Create an account and log in via the NSW Planning Portal to start your application.

Upon acceptance and fee payment your application will be assessed by our staff.

Biodiversity Certification – Sydney Region Growth Centres

My section 149 planning certificate says my land is Biodiversity Certified, what does that mean?

If your land is biodiversity certified, then development may proceed without the usual requirement under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 for site-by-site specific threatened species assessment.

Certified Lands

‘Certified’ lands are those where development proposals require no further threatened species assessment.

Biodiversity Certification is not an automatic approval to clear native vegetation; it simply means that on certified lands, threatened species assessments are no longer required during Development Applications (DAs) or when undertaking local and regional infrastructure works.

Precinct Planning will seek to retain and enhance existing vegetation and habitat to provide important amenity and open space benefits to future residents.

Although threatened species assessments are no longer needed, relevant approvals to clear native vegetation - such as that commonly required by Councils or under Commonwealth legislation – may still be necessary.

‘Non-Certified’ Lands

There is no change to the approval processes in areas which have not been certified (‘Non-Certified’ lands). Threatened species assessments may still be required before development applications can be assessed within non-certified lands.

Development within non-certified lands will be subject to existing planning and assessment requirements, including an assessment of the impact of development on biodiversity.

Advice for Landowners

Landowners may still need to conduct a threatened species assessment for development proposals that include the removal of native vegetation. Proposed clearing of native vegetation is still to be subject to the Growth Centres SEPP or other Council requirements.

Guide to Biodiversity Certification

Learn more about the Growth Centres Biodiversity Offset Program.