Apply for a Building Information Certificate

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Building Information Certificate

A Building Information Certificate confirms Council will not issue a Development Control Order under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 or Local Government Act 1993 requiring the building to be repaired, demolished, altered, added to or rebuilt. The certificate also prevents Council from taking civil proceedings in relation to any encroachment by the building onto land vested in or under the control of Council.

A building Information Certificate is not an occupation certificate or substitute for an occupation certificate.

Council may still issue a Fire Safety Order under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 or a Building Product Rectification Order under the Building Products (Safety) Act 2017 if a building information certificate has been issued.

A Building Information Certificate application can be lodged for either a part or whole of a building and may be requested by: 

  • The owner of the property, 
  • Another person, with the consent of the owner of the property, 
  • The purchaser of a property under a contract of sole (including the purchaser’s solicitor or agent), 
  • A public authority that has notified the owner of its intention to apply for the certificate. 

The building information certificate application form must be completed by the applicant. 

An application for a building information certificate must be lodged on the NSW Planning Portal. The NSW Government has prepared a step-by-step user guide for lodging a building information certificate on the NSW Planning Portal. 

Required information

Every application for a building information certificate must be accompanied by a current site survey report. On receipt of the application, Council may request the submission of any additional information necessary to enable the proper determination of the application. Upon receipt and an initial review of the application, you will be advised in writing if additional information is required. 

Assessment time

The approximate determination time for a building information certificate application is three weeks, however, this can vary based on the complexity of the application. 

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