What Renovations Need Council Approval in NSW?

By Martin Taylor, Nominated Architect (NSW Reg. 10509) — Last reviewed: 21 May 2026

If you’re thinking about renovating your home, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is: do I need council approval for this? It’s a fair question, and the answer isn’t always straightforward.

Some renovations need formal approval before you can start work. Others don’t. And getting it wrong can lead to fines, insurance headaches and serious problems when you try to sell.

Here’s a practical guide to help you work out where your project sits.

What are the three approval categories in NSW?

In NSW, residential renovation projects generally fall into one of three categories:

• Exempt Development – No approval needed. You can just get on with it.
• Complying Development Certificate (CDC) – A streamlined approval process through a private certifier. Faster than a full DA, but your project needs to meet specific criteria.
• Development Application (DA) – The traditional council approval process. Required for larger or more complex projects, or properties with certain restrictions.

The category your renovation falls into depends on a few things: what you’re planning to do, the size and scale of the work, and any planning controls that apply to your property.

Which renovations don’t need approval?

Some smaller projects are classified as exempt development, which means you can proceed without any formal approval. These typically include:

• Internal non-structural work like replacing kitchens, bathrooms, flooring or painting
• Like-for-like replacement of windows and doors (same size, same location)
• Small garden sheds and structures under a certain size
• Minor landscaping and garden work
• Putting up shelving, built-in wardrobes or installing air conditioning
• Small decks and pergolas (subject to size and height limits)
• Replacing a roof with the same materials

The key word here is typically. Exempt development has specific conditions, and if your property is heritage listed, in a bushfire zone, or subject to other planning controls, the rules may be different. Kitchens are a good example – often exempt, but not always.

Which renovations need approval?

Once you start changing the structure or footprint of your home, you’ll almost certainly need some form of approval. This includes:

• Knocking out internal walls (especially load-bearing ones)
• Extensions and additions that increase the floor area
• Adding a second storey
• Converting a garage into a living space
• Building a new garage or carport
• Significant deck or pergola structures
• Swimming pools (above a certain size)
• Granny flats and secondary dwellings
• Changing the use of a space (such as converting residential to commercial)
• Work on heritage listed properties

For many of these projects, you may be able to use the CDC pathway if your property and plans meet the relevant standards. For others, a full DA will be required.

CDC vs DA: what’s the difference?

A Complying Development Certificate is a faster, rules-based approval pathway assessed by a private certifier. A Development Application is a more flexible, case-by-case assessment by your local council. Here’s how they compare side-by-side:

In Sydney, DA timeframes from City of Sydney and Inner West councils typically sit in the 8–12 week range for straightforward applications, but heritage or contentious projects can stretch to six months or more. CDC approvals through a private certifier are usually delivered in the 10–20 day range regardless of council area, as long as your project meets every standardised rule.

Not every property qualifies for CDC. If your home is heritage listed, in a conservation area, on a flood-prone lot, or affected by certain other controls, you may need to go through the DA process regardless of the type of work you’re planning.

Why does approval matter?

It’s tempting to skip the approval process for smaller jobs, but there are real risks if you get it wrong.

• Fines and orders – Councils can issue fines and orders requiring you to stop work, modify the build, or even demolish unapproved structures.
• Insurance issues – If something goes wrong with unapproved work (fire, water damage, injury), your insurance may not cover it.
• Problems at sale – When you sell your property, unapproved work can show up in building reports or council searches. It can delay settlement, reduce your sale price, or scare off buyers altogether.
• Certification headaches – You won’t be able to get an occupation certificate for unapproved work, which can create complications down the track.

How do I find out what applies to my property?

The rules depend on your specific property and what planning controls apply to it. You can start by checking your local council’s website or the NSW Planning Portal, but it’s not always easy to interpret. A pre-construction checklist can help you organise the basics.

The safest approach is to get professional advice early. A quick conversation with someone who understands the planning system can save you a lot of time, money and stress later on.

At Planshop, we help homeowners navigate the town planning process from the start. Whether you need a simple check on what approvals apply to your property, or full support to prepare and lodge a DA or CDC application with our town planning team, we can guide you through it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three approval categories in NSW?

In NSW, residential renovation projects generally fall into one of three categories: Exempt Development (no approval needed), a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) issued by a private certifier under standardised state-wide rules, or a Development Application (DA) assessed by the local council. Which category applies depends on the type of work, the size of the project, and the planning controls on your property.

Which renovations do not need council approval in NSW?

Internal non-structural work, like-for-like window or door replacement, small garden sheds, minor landscaping, built-in wardrobes, air conditioning, small decks and pergolas within size limits, and like-for-like roof replacement are typically classified as exempt development. Heritage-listed, bushfire-zone or otherwise controlled properties may have different rules, so always check before you start.

Which renovations need council approval in NSW?

Structural changes (especially load-bearing walls), extensions and additions, second-storey additions, garage conversions, new garages or carports, large decks and pergolas, larger swimming pools, granny flats and secondary dwellings, changes of use, and any work on heritage-listed properties all require either a CDC or a full DA.

What is the difference between a CDC and a DA?

A CDC is fast-tracked by a private certifier against standardised state-wide rules in the SEPP for Exempt and Complying Development, and is usually approved in 10–20 days if your project complies with every rule. A DA is assessed by the local council with neighbour notification and typically takes 2–4 months. Heritage, flood-prone or conservation-area properties usually have to go through the DA process.

What happens if I renovate without council approval?

Councils can issue fines and orders to stop work, modify the build, or demolish unapproved structures. Insurance may not cover damage caused by unapproved work, and unapproved structures show up in pre-sale building reports — delaying settlement, reducing the sale price, or scaring off buyers. You also cannot obtain an occupation certificate for unapproved work.

How do I find out what approvals my renovation needs?

Start with your local council website and the NSW Planning Portal for the planning controls that apply to your property. Interpreting them is difficult, so the safest approach is a property-specific check with an architect or town planner before you start. Planshop offers this across Greater Sydney.

If you’re planning a renovation and want to know where you stand, get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction.