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What is certification?

Most building and subdivision in NSW involves certification, whether it is the assessment of detailed construction plans for a high rise residential building, house plans assessed as complying development or inspections undertaken during the construction phase.

Certificates are approvals provided from either a council or an accredited certifier to confirm that proposed and completed development complies with relevant planning controls and national building standards.

The group of professionals who deliver this certification are accredited by the Building Professionals Board. It is up to the person who is building or developing to decide whether to use their council or an accredited certifier.

Certificates are issued under the

• Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act)
• Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Act 1973 or
• Strata Schemes (Leasehold Development) Act 1986.

Either a council or accredited certifier can

• issue complying development certificates
• issue construction certificates
• issue compliance certificates
• issue strata certificates
• conduct inspections of building works during their construction
• act as a principal certifying authority (PCA) responsible for issuing occupation certificates for building work and subdivision certificates for subdivision work. (Usually only the council can act as PCA for subdivision work and issue subdivision certificates (unless the local planning instrument says otherwise)).

More information

• Guide to the building approvals process
• Guide to working with a Principal Certifying Authority (PCA)