Home Renovations and Council Approvals in NSW

Planning a renovation can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to figure out what requires council approval and what doesn’t. You’re not alone in this confusion – it’s one of the most common questions homeowners ask when they’re ready to transform their space. The good news is that understanding NSW’s approval system isn’t as complicated as it first appears, and knowing the rules upfront can save you from costly mistakes, delays, and potential fines down the track.

The simplest category is exempt development, these are minor renovations that don’t require any council approval whatsoever. Think of these as the “no-fuss” renovations that you can crack on with straight away, provided they meet specific standards.

You can tackle projects like painting your house, replacing fixtures such as taps and lights, installing new flooring like carpets or tiles, and adding built-in furniture like shelves and cupboards without any paperwork. These renovations are considered low-impact because they don’t significantly affect your home’s structure or safety.

However, there’s a crucial catch that trips up many homeowners and even some builders. Just because you’re working inside your home doesn’t automatically make it exempt development. The rules specifically state that exempt development “does not include a change to the configuration of a room, whether by removal of an existing wall, partition or other means”. So if you’re planning to knock down walls or change your window arrangements, you’ve moved beyond exempt territory.

Internal changes you can make include renovating an existing bathroom (like-for-like), replacing deteriorated structures with the same or better materials, and installing wardrobes or workstations. But the moment you start moving walls around or changing the room layout, you’ll need approval.

Complying Development Certificates (CDCs) are the middle ground, they’re for more substantial projects that still meet predetermined standards. This pathway combines planning and building approvals into one streamlined process, and approvals can be granted in as little as 2-3 weeks.

Your renovation might qualify for complying development if you’re planning home extensions or additions that meet specific setback and size requirements, installing a granny flat, building swimming pools and spas, or constructing carports and garages. The key advantage here is speed and cost-effectiveness compared to a full Development Application.

To qualify for a CDC, your project must strictly comply with requirements regarding setbacks, height limits, floor ratios, and any site-specific factors like bushfire, flood, or heritage overlays. There’s no flexibility here – if even one criterion isn’t met, your CDC application won’t be approved, and you’ll need to go down the Development Application route instead.

Development Applications (DAs) are required for larger, more complex renovations that don’t fit the strict CDC criteria. While they take longer (typically 3-6 months), they offer much more flexibility because councils assess projects on their individual merits.

You’ll likely need a DA for multi-storey additions, major structural changes that significantly alter your home’s character, renovations in heritage or environmentally sensitive areas, or projects that require tree removal or significant landscaping changes. The DA process involves detailed documentation, often requires neighbour consultation, and allows for variations from standard planning controls if you can justify them.

Here’s where many homeowners get caught out, structural changes almost always require some form of approval. Removing or altering load-bearing walls tops this list. Even if a wall doesn’t look load-bearing, it might be providing crucial structural support that isn’t immediately obvious.

Adding doorways or openings in existing walls, altering rooflines or ceiling heights, and any work affecting foundations or footings all fall into this category. Room additions, whether it’s an extra bedroom, bathroom, or extended living area, will typically require council sign-off because they change your home’s footprint and potentially impact neighbours.

Major plumbing relocations, such as moving your kitchen or bathroom to a different part of the house, often need approval too. This isn’t just about the plumbing itself, it’s about ensuring proper ventilation, waterproofing, and compliance with building codes.

Some renovations sit in grey areas where the approval requirements aren’t immediately clear. Kitchen renovations are a perfect example. If you’re simply replacing cabinets, benchtops, and appliances in the same configuration, you’re likely looking at exempt development. But if you’re removing walls to create an open-plan layout or relocating the kitchen entirely, you’ll need approval.

Bathroom renovations follow similar rules. A like-for-like replacement typically doesn’t require approval, but expanding the bathroom by removing walls or significantly changing the layout will. The key question is whether you’re changing the room’s configuration or just refreshing what’s already there.

Converting spaces from one use to another – like turning a garage into a habitable room – is another area where homeowners often assume they don’t need approval when they actually do. This type of conversion requires approval because it changes the building’s use and affects requirements like car parking spaces.

When your renovation extends beyond the walls of your home, you’re almost certainly going to need some form of approval. Extensions, whether they’re single or double-storey, need approval because they change your home’s impact on the neighbourhood. This includes considerations like overshadowing neighbours, stormwater drainage, and compliance with setback requirements.

Swimming pools, spas, and large decking areas require approval, though they might qualify for the faster CDC pathway if they meet specific standards. The same applies to substantial landscaping changes, retaining walls over certain heights, and new outbuildings like studios or large sheds.

Even seemingly minor external works can require approval depending on your council. Some councils require approval for new fences, carports, or pergolas, while others don’t. This variation between councils makes it essential to check with your specific local authority rather than assuming what applies in one area will apply in another.

Understanding the financial implications helps you plan your renovation budget more accurately. CDC applications are generally more cost-effective, with faster processing times of 2-3 weeks. The exact cost depends on your project’s value, but you’ll typically pay both application fees and certifier fees.

DA costs are more substantial and vary significantly based on your project’s estimated development cost. For example, a project valued between $50,001 and $250,000 might cost $459 plus $3.64 per $1,000 over $50,000 in council fees alone. This doesn’t include the cost of preparing plans, reports, and consultant fees, which can add thousands more to your budget.

The timeframe difference is significant too. While CDCs can be approved in weeks, DAs typically take 3-6 months, and sometimes longer for complex projects. This extended timeframe needs to factor into your renovation planning, especially if you’re working around school holidays or trying to complete work before major life events.

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is assuming internal work doesn’t need approval. As we’ve covered, moving walls or changing room configurations requires approval regardless of whether the work is inside or outside. Another common error is confusing exempt development with complying development, they’re completely different categories with different requirements.

Many people also underestimate the importance of getting proper approvals because they think small changes won’t be noticed. However, working without required approvals can create serious problems when you try to sell your property, make insurance claims, or if council discovers unauthorised work. Council can order you to demolish or reverse unauthorised works, which is expensive and disruptive.

If your project needs a CDC or DA, factor in those approval timelines from day one. Approval processes can take anywhere from a fortnight for complying developments to six months for complex DAs, and that’s before construction starts. Pro tip: align your approval timeline with seasonal weather patterns. You don’t want to get your DA approved in peak rainy season only to have your builders delayed by mud-filled trenches.

This is where partnering with experienced professionals pays dividends. Builders like Jonathan Homes who are Sydney-based renovation specialists with 15+ years navigating NSW council approvals – can be game-changers. Our team handles everything from drafting CDC-compliant plans to liaising with council planners, which is clutch if you’re time-poor or new to the renovation rodeo.

Ready to streamline your home renovation? Reach out to the team at Jonathan Homes today. Our end-to-end service handles design, approvals, and build logistics – particularly valuable if you’re tackling heritage overlays or complex extensions where council negotiations get tricky. With our Master Builders Association accreditation and 7-year structural warranty, we’re a solid pick for Sydney homeowners wanting to minimise approval headaches and experience the benefits of home renovation sooner rather than later.