Do You Need Council Approval to Demolish in NSW?

The two approval pathways

In NSW, demolition of a building is generally either approved as part of a development application (DA) lodged with your local council, or as complying development via a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) issued by council or a registered private certifier.

A CDC is the faster route and is available when the property and the works meet the standard criteria. Heritage items, heritage conservation areas, bushfire and flood-prone land, and some environmentally sensitive sites usually push the job back to a DA.

What typically needs approval

• Demolishing a house, granny flat, garage or shed
• Removing structural walls or a substantial part of a building
• Demolition on a heritage-listed property or in a conservation area
• Works forming part of a knock-down-rebuild

What usually doesn't

Strata and community-title properties are different again: even a non-structural bathroom stripout normally needs owners corporation approval and a by-law for renovation works.

• Non-structural interior stripouts — kitchen, bathroom, floor coverings, cabinetry
• Removing fixtures, fittings and finishes
• Minor works within an existing approval

Other things you'll need regardless of approval

• Service disconnections — electricity, gas, water — arranged before demolition
• An asbestos assessment for anything built before 1990
• A licensed removalist for any asbestos material
• Waste disposal to licensed facilities, with receipts
• Public liability insurance and a safe work method statement from your contractor

Confirm with your council

Rules vary by local government area and by property. Always confirm with your council or a private certifier before booking demolition. We can work in alongside your certifier and builder once the pathway is settled, and we'll tell you upfront if the scope you've described looks like it needs approval.