So your deck does not qualify as exempt development, and you need an approval. This is the step-by-step version, kept as simple as we can make it. If you are not sure which path you need yet, run our two-minute deck approval checker or read do you need council approval for a deck in NSW, then come back here.
This is general guidance, not legal advice, and the exact documents and fees vary by council and by site. Use it to understand the shape of the process.
First, know which approval you are chasing
There are two approval paths, and they are not the same job.
- A CDC (complying development certificate) is the faster one. Your deck meets a clear set of standards, so an accredited certifier can sign it off without a full council assessment.
- A DA (development application) is the full council process, for decks that do not fit the standard rules. A council planner assesses your specific proposal.
Everything below applies to both, but the DA path usually asks for more documents and takes longer.
Step 1: Get proper plans drawn up
Clear, complete drawings do most of the work here. You need drawings that clearly show what you are building and that it meets the rules. At a minimum that usually means:
- A site plan: a bird’s-eye view of your block showing the house, the boundaries, and exactly where the deck goes and how far it sits from each fence.
- Elevations: side-on views showing how high the deck floor and any railing sit above the ground.
- Enough construction detail to show the deck is structurally sound.
Rough sketches do not cut it. A clean, accurate set of plans is what lets a certifier or planner say yes without a back-and-forth.
We draw these plans for you. Site plan, elevations and construction detail, set out to scale and ready to lodge, then we handle the application too. Get a free quote.
Step 2: Gather the supporting documents
The extras depend on your block. Common ones include:
- A bushfire assessment if you are on bushfire-prone land.
- A survey of the property if boundaries or levels matter.
- A stormwater or drainage plan showing water does not pond or run onto a neighbour.
- Owner’s consent and basic property details.
Your council or certifier will give you the exact list. It is worth getting this right early, because a missing document is the most common reason an application stalls.
Step 3: Lodge it on the NSW Planning Portal
In NSW, both DAs and CDCs are lodged online through the NSW Planning Portal. The steps are:
- Create a free Planning Portal account.
- Start a new application and pick the right type (DA or CDC).
- Fill in the details about your property and your deck.
- Upload your plans and supporting documents.
- Pay the application fee.
For a CDC you nominate a certifier; for a DA the application goes to your local council.
Step 4: Answer questions during assessment
Once it is in, someone reviews it. For a DA that is a council planner; for a CDC it is your certifier. They may come back asking for more detail or a small change. The faster you respond, the faster you get a yes. This stage is mostly about keeping the ball rolling.
Step 5: Get approved, then start the build
- With a CDC, the certificate itself is your green light. You can build once it is issued, following any conditions on it.
- With a DA, approval is the first half. Before you start, you also need a construction certificate and an appointed certifier to inspect the work as it goes.
Keep the approval and its conditions somewhere handy during the build, because the certifier will check against them.
The easier way
None of this is impossible, but it is fiddly, and a single missing document can cost you weeks. For our customers, we take the whole thing off your plate: we design the deck, work out the right approval path, prepare the plans and documents, and lodge it for you. You get a deck that is approved properly and built properly, without ever logging into the portal yourself.
If that sounds better than doing it yourself, get in touch and tell us what you have in mind.
Thinking about your own deck? See our decking services or get a free quote.
