A SEPP is a state-level planning instrument that sets planning policy on specific topics or development types. Where a SEPP conflicts with a council LEP or DCP, the SEPP generally prevails.

A DCP provides detailed guidance on how development should be carried out in a council area. It sits beneath the LEP in the planning hierarchy and cannot override it, but it plays a significant role in the assessment of most DAs.

An LEP is a statutory planning instrument made under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 that zones land and sets the fundamental development standards for each zone.

"Granny flat" is a colloquial term. "Secondary dwelling" is the correct planning and legal term used in NSW legislation, LEPs and SEPPs.

In most cases, a garage conversion to a habitable room requires either a CDC or a DA, and the converted space must comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) standards for habitable rooms.

A change of use occurs when a premises is proposed to be used for a purpose that is different to its current approved use. In most cases, a DA is required.

Health consulting rooms typically involve one or two health practitioners seeing patients by appointment. A medical centre is a larger facility with multiple practitioners and, in many cases, ancillary services.

Whether you need council approval to run a home business in NSW depends on the scale of the activity, the land use zone and whether the business meets the definition and standards for exempt development.

A DA is assessed by council against a range of planning controls. A CDC is a faster, code-based approval issued by a private certifier or council when a project meets specific pre-set standards.

A Development Application (DA) is a formal request to a local council for permission to carry out development on a parcel of land. In NSW, DAs are governed by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) and assessed against the applicable Local Environmental Plan (LEP), Development Control Plan (DCP) and any relevant State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs).

Under the NSW Low and Mid-Rise Housing SEPP, properties located within 800m walking distance of a train station, metro station or town centre are eligible for significantly increased housing density.

A PPA confirms whether your intended use is permissible, identifies what approvals are required to lawfully operate, and flags any site constraints that could affect your ability to trade, your fitout costs or your timeline to opening .

A Preliminary Planning Assessment can take the guesswork out of a question that sounds simple but depends on a specific set of site conditions that most homeowners have never checked.

A Preliminary Planning Assessment (PPA) - also called a Preliminary Planning Report - is an upfront feasibility review prepared by a town planner. Under the NSW planning framework (Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979), a PPA tells you precisely what you can and cannot build on a property before committing capital to architectural drawings, land surveys or engineering reports.

Many minor building projects and changes of use do not actually require a formal Development Application (DA) or even a Complying Development Certificate (CDC). These low-impact projects fall under a category known as Exempt Development.

A Clause 4.6 is a legal mechanism in NSW LEPs that allows councils to approve developments that exceed numerical limits like height or FSR. To succeed, an applicant must prove that strict compliance is "unreasonable or unnecessary" and that the variation is supported by "sufficient environmental planning grounds."

A home business in NSW is legal if it operates as "Exempt Development" under state policies or has a valid council approval. Legality is determined by the number of employees, the floor area used and the impact on neighbourhood parking and noise.

If you are planning to open a gym, fitness studio or indoor recreation facility in an E1 Local Centre zone in NSW, you will almost certainly need development approval before you open your doors. Here is what you need to know.

In NSW, a home business is a commercial activity conducted within a dwelling by its residents. While small-scale setups may be exempt, any business that employs non-residents, attracts significant visitors or requires physical alterations likely needs a Development Application.

Multi dwelling housing refers to three or more dwellings (whether attached or detached) on one lot of land, each with access at ground level, but excluding residential flat buildings.

Determining the correct code is not just a checkbox exercise it is the foundation of your project's legal compliance. By correctly identifying whether your project falls under the General, Rural, Greenfield, or Inland codes, you can move forward with a Statement of Environmental Effects or a CDC application with total confidence.

Controls - complying development under Part 3 Housing Code of the Codes SEPP

The non-discretionary dual occupancy standards (which Council cannot use as grounds for refusal if met) and the standard merit-based requirements under the Low and Mid-Rise (LMR) Housing Policy.

The site was originally approved for a change of use from a technology retail store to a restaurant under the Cumberland Local Environmental Plan 2021 (CLEP). However, the previous owner never completed the fit-out or commenced trading. When new ownership took over, the goal was to operationalise the consent for a new pizza restaurant.