Lodge a Development Application

Most development proposals require approval from Council before they can proceed. This approval is known as development consent.

This page sets out the development application (DA) process you need to follow to apply for Council's consent for your small residential development or complex development (select the appropriate tab below).

Small Residential Developments

Step 1.Check you need approval

Some minor development projects may be eligible for an exemption or a fast-tracked assessment – see Do I need development approval?

Step 2.Get help preparing your application

When preparing applications for small residential development:

  • new houses
  • alterations and additions to houses
  • secondary dwellings i.e. granny flats

Please refer to the NSW Government's Your guide to the development application process.

You can also get general advice on the planning/building process by speaking to Council's Duty Officers between 8:30am to 11:00am Monday to Friday on 02 6643 0200. 

Please Note: Duty Officers are not able to provide detailed planning, development or construction advice or advice on draft plans. If you require detailed advice it is recommended that you engage the services of a town planning and/or building consultant.

Step 3.Get your documents ready

Use our Development Application Matrix and supporting documents below for a quick guide to the information you may be required to submit.

Please refer to Council's Development Control Plans, Local Environmental Plan to provide detailed planning and design guidelines to support the planning controls.

To determine if your application is to be notified or advertised refer to the Community Participation Plan (CPP).

Step 4.Register for an account with the NSW Planning Portal

As of 1 January 2021 all development related applications can only be submitted to Council online via the NSW Planning Portal.
This includes:

  • Development Applications (DA) 
  • Application to modify a DA 
  • Subdivision Application
  • Request to review a DA
  • Complying Development Certificate Applications
  • Construction Certificate Applications
  • Application for PC Appointment
  • Application for Occupation Certificates
  • Civil Works / Subdivision Construction Certificates
  • Subdivision Certificates
  • Building Information Certificates
  • Registration of Private Certifier Certificates

You will need to register for an account with the NSW Planning Portal to access and submit these forms.

Step 5.Log in and submit your application

Register for an account then log in and submit your application.

To understand how to use the NSW Planning Portal refer to the NSW Planning Portal's Quick Reference Guides.

For technical issues with using the NSW Planning Portal contact Service NSW’s Support Service.

Go to the NSW Planning Portal

Step 6.Your application is reviewed

Your application will be reviewed and a preliminary assessment will be made to make sure it meets the requirements for lodgement and all the relevant information has been included.

If your application is assessed as incomplete Council will return it. 

For Example;

Information submitted is insufficient or an additional information request is not responded to within the timeframe given.

Step 7.If accepted you pay the fees

Once your application has been assessed as suitable for lodgement you will be required to pay the associated fees.

Visit Council's Fees and Charges or generate a quote using our DA Fee Estimator for more information about the fees you will need to pay.

The application is not taken to be lodged until all required information has been supplied and required fees have been paid. 

Step 8.Your application is assessed

Once the relevant fees have been paid your application will then be assigned to an assessment officer for a detailed assessment. The assessing officer may require you to submit further documents to support your development application. 

You can track key milestones in the process using Council's DA Tracker.

If additional information is requested it must be provided by the applicant via the NSW Planning Portal in a timely manner. 

Step 9.If approved you receive consent

If your application is approved by Council you will receive a development consent and approved plans which will be either unconditional or subject to conditions. A development consent is a legal document and the development approved under the development consent must be constructed and operated according to the requirements of the conditions.

If not approved

If your application is not approved the applicant may request that Council review its determination. A Review can also be lodged if you are dissatisfied with a condition of consent. Requests to review determinations are required to be made and considered in accordance with Division 8.2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

If you are still dissatisfied with Council's determination of a development, you can lodge an appeal to the Land and Environment Court under Division 8.3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

Step 10.Next steps

Once you have consent you'll need a Construction Certificate before you can begin any building or subdivision work. You will also need a Principal Certifying Authority who will issue you with an Occupation Certificate, the last step in the formal DA process. 

Step 11.Lodgement Support

If you need assistance using the online portal service, please view the Department of Planning, Industry and environment's How to Guide or contact Service NSW on 1300 305 698 for additional support.

You can also contact Council's Customer Service Officer (Planning) on 02 6643 0200 for assistance lodging your application on the Portal.

Other Developments

Step 1.Do your own initial research

Use our NSW Spatial Viewer to find information about land-based constraints, services and planning controls, including zoning. 

Please refer to Council's Development Control Plans, Local Environmental Plan the provide detailed planning and design guidelines to support the planning controls. 

You can also find documents Development Contribution Plans and Plans and Strategies that apply in the Clarence Valley Local Government Area.

Step 2.Get help preparing your application

For any developments other than small residential (houses, alterations and additions, sheds, secondary dwellings etc) we recommend that you engage a town planning consultant to prepare your application. 

You can book a Pre-DA lodgement meeting or seek Professional written advice with Council to get preliminary feedback on complex development applications.

You can also get general advice on the planning/building process by speaking to Council's Duty Officers between 8:30am to 11:00am Monday to Friday on 02 6643 0200. 

Please Note: Duty Officers are not able to provide detailed planning, development or construction advice or advice on draft plans. If you require detailed advice it is recommended that you engage the services of a town planning and/or building consultant.

Step 3.Get your documents ready

Use our Development Application Matrix and supporting documents below for a quick guide to the information you may be required to submit.

To determine if your application is to be notified or advertised refer to the Community Participation Plan (CPP).

Note: You may be required to submit further documents to support your development application once the assessing officer starts their assessment. 

Step 4.Register for an account with the NSW Planning Portal

As of 1 January 2021 all development related applications can only be submitted to Council online via the NSW Planning Portal. This includes:

  • Development Applications (DA)
  • Subdivision Application
  • Application to modify a DA
  • Request to review a DA
  • Complying Development Certificate Applications
  • Construction Certificate Applications
  • Application for Occupation Certificates
  • Civil Works / Subdivision Works Certificates
  • Subdivision Certificates

If you do not already have an account you will need to register for an account with the NSW Planning Portal

To understand how to use the NSW Planning Portal refer to the NSW Planning Portal's Quick Reference Guides.

For technical issues with using the NSW Planning Portal contact Service NSW’s Support Service.

Step 5.Log in and submit your application

Once you have an account you will need to log in to submit your application. 

Go to the NSW Planning Portal

You can submit additional information via the NSW Planning Portal after you have submitted the application.

Step 6.Your application is reviewed

Your application will be reviewed to make sure it meets the requirements for lodgement and all the relevant information(PDF, 205KB) has been included.

If your application is assessed as incomplete Council will return it. 

For Example;

Information submitted is insufficient or an additional information request is not responded to within the timeframe given.

Step 7.If accepted you pay the fees

Once your application has been assessed as suitable for lodgement you will be required to pay the associated fees.

Visit Council's Fees and Charges or generate a quote using our DA Fee Estimator for more information about the fees you will need to pay.

The application is not taken to be lodged until all required information has been supplied and required fees have been paid. 

Step 8.Your application is assessed

Once the relevant fees have been paid your application will then be assigned to an assessment officer for a detailed assessment. The assessing officer may require you to submit further documents to support your development application. 

You can track key milestones in the process using Council's DA Tracker.

If additional information is requested it must be provided by the applicant via the NSW Planning Portal in a timely manner. 

Step 9.If approved you receive consent

If your application is approved by Council you will receive a development consent, which will be either unconditional or subject to conditions. A development consent is a legal document and the development approved under the development consent must be constructed and operated according to the requirements of the conditions.

If not approved

If your application is not approved the applicant may request that Council review its determination. A Review can also be lodged if you are dissatisfied with a condition of consent. Requests to review determinations are required to be made and considered in accordance with Division 8.2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

If you are still dissatisfied with Council's determination of a development, you can lodge an appeal to the Land and Environment Court under Division 8.3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

Step 10.Next steps

Once you have consent you'll need a Construction Certificate or Subdivision Works Certificate before you can begin any building or subdivision work. You will also need a Principal Certifying Authority who will issue you with an Occupation Certificate or Subdivision Certificate, the last step in the formal DA process. 

Step 11.Lodgement Support

If you need assistance using the online portal service, please view the Department of Planning, Industry and environment's How to Guide or contact Service NSW on 1300 305 698 for additional support.

You can also contact Council's Customer Service Officer (Planning) on 02 6643 0200 for assistance lodging your application on the Portal.