DA documentation checklist by council

Documents you'll almost always need

Development Applications in NSW are lodged through the NSW Planning Portal. While each council has its own checklist, this is the core set most residential applications require:

• Owner's consent — signed by all registered owners of the land.
• Site plan — showing boundaries, existing and proposed structures, setbacks and levels.
• Architectural plans — floor plans, elevations and sections, drawn to scale.
• Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) — assessing the impact of the proposal against planning controls.
• BASIX certificate — for new dwellings and major alterations.
• Cost of works estimate — used to calculate fees.

Reports often required by site

Depending on the land and the development, councils frequently ask for one or more of the following technical reports:

• Geotechnical / site classification report — soil and ground conditions for footing design. See do I need a geotech report?
• Erosion & Sediment Control Plan (ESCP/ESCR) — how soil disturbance and runoff are managed during construction.
• Stormwater / drainage plan — concept drainage design.
• Waste management plan — demolition and construction waste.
• Shadow diagrams — for two-storey work or where overshadowing is a concern.
• Arborist / tree report — where trees are affected.
• Bushfire, flood or acid sulfate soil assessments — on mapped hazard land.

Check your council

Sydney councils — including the City of Sydney, Inner West, Northern Beaches, Sutherland Shire, Canterbury-Bankstown, Blacktown and Parramatta — each publish a lodgement checklist. The reports above cover the great majority, but always confirm against your council's current checklist before lodging.

Not sure which reports apply to your block? We can review your site and tell you exactly what's needed — see our Sydney DA requirements guide or get in touch.