Unauthorised building work
A Building Information Certificate is not an approval. It does not retrospectively approve or regulate unauthorised building work.
Council cannot retrospectively approve unauthorised building work. It is strongly recommended that you obtain Development Consent prior to carrying out any building work that requires development consent.
Is a Building Information Certificate an Occupation Certificate?
A Building Information Certificate is not an Occupation Certificate and it is not a substitute for one.
An Occupation Certificate must be obtained before a building is occupied in accordance with s 6.9 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
It is an offence to occupy a building without an Occupation Certificate and Council may issue penalty notices and/or a Development Control Order to stop use of the building, even if a Building Information Certificate has been issued.
Does a Building Information Certificate authorise an Occupation Certificate to be issued?
A Building Information Certificate does not resolve non-compliant development that may prevent a Principal Certifier issuing an Occupation Certificate and it does not authorise the Principal Certifier to issue an Occupation Certificate.
All building work should be done in accordance with the Development Consent. If you anticipate that building work will not be done in accordance the Development Consent due to site conditions, design changes or other factors, you should stop work and obtain any necessary approvals before carrying out the building work.
Carrying out building work that is not consistent with the Development Consent may prevent an Occupation Certificate being issued for the completed development.