Approvals
How a granny flat gets approved in NSW
CDC or DA?
| CDC (complying development) | DA (development application) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who approves | Private certifier | Council |
| Assessed against | Fixed numeric standards in the Housing SEPP | The LEP and council’s DCP, on merit |
| Lot | Residential zone, generally ≥ 450 m² and ≥ 12 m frontage | Smaller or irregular lots can be approved on merit |
| Neighbours | Notified before works start | Notified during assessment and can object |
| Who prepares it | Flat Grannys — from $450 + GST | PlanLand, our planning firm |
What a CDC application needs
- Site survey showing boundaries, levels and existing buildings — by others, from your surveyor
- Site plan, floor plan, elevations and section — our approval set
- BASIX certificate
- Structural and geotechnical input for the slab and frame
- Stormwater concept showing where roof water goes
- The certifier’s application form and fees
We place our design on your survey and prepare the approval drawings. You issue the application to your certifier; we answer their questions on the drawings.
When you need a DA instead
A CDC is closed off when the lot is under 450 m² or too narrow, when the property is a heritage item or in a heritage conservation area, or when flood, bushfire or other environmental controls can’t be met under the code. A DA can still approve a granny flat on those sites — it just needs a merit assessment.
We refer DA work to PlanLand. Same people, same drawings standard; PlanLand prepares the Statement of Environmental Effects and manages the application through council.
The rules in detail
Setbacks, height, open space and the 60 m² limit are set out in our guide: Granny flat rules NSW.
Which pathway is your block?
Send us the address. We check it against the NSW controls and tell you what fits, which pathway applies and what it will cost — free, within one business day.