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Complying Development Certificates in Sydney

Sydney Wide Certifiers are private CDC certifiers assessing and issuing Complying Development Certificates for homes, renovations and commercial projects across Greater Sydney. Get in touch for a same-day quote.

5,000+
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Greater Sydney
Greater Sydney & Surrounding Regions
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What Is a CDC and What Does a CDC Certifier Do?

A Complying Development Certificate (CDC) is a combined planning and construction approval that lets a qualifying project skip a full Development Application (DA). A CDC certifier is the registered professional who checks your proposal against the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (the Codes SEPP) and issues the certificate if it complies.

As private CDC certifiers, we assess eligibility, review your plans against every relevant standard, and issue the certificate directly, without your application sitting in a council queue.

Do You Need a CDC Certifier for Your Project?

A CDC certifier is required in the following situations:

You're building a new house or granny flat and want a faster approval path than a DA

You're adding an alteration, extension or internal fit-out that meets standard planning controls

You're constructing a commercial or industrial fit-out, change of use, or ancillary structure like a pool, shed or carport

You're demolishing an existing structure and need certification before work starts

You've been told your project might qualify as complying development but aren't sure it meets every standard

Not sure if this applies to your project? Contact us and we'll assess it for free.

How the CDC Certification Process Works

01

Free eligibility check: Send us your plans and site details. We check them against the Codes SEPP criteria to confirm complying development is genuinely on the table.

02

Lodge your application: Once eligible, you provide full architectural plans, your Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) certificate, structural details and any specialist reports needed.

03

Assessment against the Code: We review your proposal against the relevant Codes SEPP provisions, the Building Code of Australia (BCA), and any referenced Australian Standards.

04

Conditions and issue: We issue your CDC with the approved plans and any pre-commencement conditions, or come back to you fast if something needs fixing first.

05

Ongoing certifier support: If needed, we can continue as your Principal Certifier through construction, right through to your Occupation Certificate.

Timeframes

Most CDC applications are determined within 7 to 10 business days of a complete application. The statutory limit is 10 business days for most complying development, or 20 business days where neighbour notification applies, such as new dwellings and some alterations.

Incomplete documentation, a proposal that fails even one numerical standard, or site constraints like heritage listing can extend this or push the project into the slower DA pathway instead.

Why Sydney Projects Choose Us as Their CDC Certifiers

A1-accredited certifier on the team
We have an A1-accredited certifier on staff, the highest accreditation class in NSW, qualified to certify buildings of any class or size.
Price Beat Guarantee
Got a comparable quote from another certifier? We'll beat it by 5%.
Real-time visibility with our client portal
Our client portal gives you live visibility of exactly where your CDC application is up to, no chasing required.
300+ reviews, 4.9★ average rating
We've issued 5,000+ certificates across Greater Sydney, backed by 300+ Google reviews at a 4.9★ average rating.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a CDC certifier and going through council?
A certifier is a private, registered professional who can assess and issue your certificate directly, rather than your application sitting in a council planning queue. Both pathways check the same Codes SEPP standards, but a private certifier gives you one point of contact and generally faster turnaround.
How long does it take to get a CDC?
Most CDC applications are determined within 7 to 10 business days of a complete application. The statutory limit is 10 business days for most complying development, or 20 business days where neighbour notification applies, such as new dwellings and some alterations. This compares to 6 to 12 weeks or more for a typical DA lodged with council.
How much does it cost to hire a CDC certifier in Sydney?
Pricing depends on your project type and complexity, but we quote a transparent fixed fee upfront with no hidden council lodgement costs. We also offer a Price Beat Guarantee, so if you have a comparable quote, we'll beat it by 5%.
Can a CDC certifier reject my project partway through?
Yes, if your proposal fails even one applicable numerical standard in the Codes SEPP, for example a side setback that's short by 50 mm, it can't be approved as complying development. That's why we run a free eligibility check first, so you know where you stand before lodging a formal application.
Can the same certifier handle my Construction Certificate and Occupation Certificate too?
Yes, we can act as your Principal Certifier through construction, carrying your project from CDC approval through to a final Occupation Certificate.

Get Your CDC Certifier in Sydney Sorted

Sydney Wide Certifiers handles eligibility checks, assessment and issue, so your project stays on track without you having to navigate council alone.

Contact us for a same-day quote, and remember, we'll beat any comparable quote by 5%.

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