Development Types and Approval Pathways

Development types refer to different kinds of developments that you may undertake.

Common examples of development types are:

• Construction of a single Dwelling House
• Construction of a deck
• Subdivision
• Construction of a secondary dwelling
• Construction of a dual occupancy development (i.e. 2 dwellings on a single allotment)

There are several different planning approval pathways in NSW (different ways you go about obtaining approval for your project). The size, and scale and location of the development will determine which of the approval pathways is appropriate. Common examples of approval pathways are:

• Exempt Development (no development approval required if prescribed design standards are met)
• Complying Development (development and construction approval by a Council certifier or an accredited certifier if prescribed design standards are met)
• Local Development (Development Applications assessed and determined by Council) and Construction Certificate (approval by an accredited certifier)

• Regionally significant Development (Development Applications assessed by Council and determined by the Regional Planning Panel) and Construction Certificate (approval by an accredited certifier)

For each development type, there is an appropriate approval pathway you need to follow, which guides you during the planning, application, construction phases of your project.

For example;

• You could follow the planning pathway of Complying Development for the construction of a single storey Dwelling House
• You could follow the planning pathway of Exempt Development for the construction of a deck
• You could follow the planning pathway of a Local Development (DA Application) for a subdivision.