Council DA vs Private CDC
One pathway takes weeks, costs holding interest, and lets neighbours stall you. The other is handled entirely by your private certifier - often in under three weeks.
Side by side
How they actually compare
Every factor that impacts your timeline and budget, laid out plainly.
Critical path
From application to breaking ground
A side-by-side look at how each pathway actually plays out in practice.
Lodge DA with Council
Enter the council queue. No guaranteed slot.
Public Exhibition
14–30 days. Neighbours may object.
Merit Assessment
Planner evaluates streetscape, shadows, character.
DA Consent Issued
Planning approval only - still cannot build yet.
Apply for CC
Separate structural check required.
CC Issued - Build
Now you can finally break ground.
Lodge Directly with Private Certifier
No queue. Acknowledged within 24 hours.
Code Compliance Assessment
Your plans checked against fixed SEPP controls. No subjectivity.
CDC Issued - Combined Approval
Planning AND construction approved together. Build immediately.
Eligibility check
When a DA is unavoidable
The NSW State Codes SEPP excludes properties from the CDC pathway in these situations. If any one of these applies to your site, you must lodge a DA with your local council.
Heritage Items
State or locally listed properties are excluded from the CDC pathway entirely.
High-Risk Bushfire Zones
BAL-40 and BAL-FZ land must follow a full DA with a bushfire assessment.
Flood Control Lots
Flood-affected sites require a qualified engineer report before any pathway is considered.
SEPP Code Non-Compliance
If your design exceeds any single control (height, setbacks, FSR), the CDC pathway is not available.
Biodiversity Sensitive Land
Areas mapped under the NSW Biodiversity Values Map require a DA and potential BDAR.
Coastal Wetlands
Littoral rainforest and coastal wetland land cannot use the CDC pathway under the Coastal SEPP.
Unsure if your property triggers any of the above? Send us your Section 10.7 Planning Certificate and we will run a free code-check - no obligation.
Get a Free Code-Check