What is the NSW Planning Portal?
The NSW Government created the Planning Portal to make it easier, quicker and more transparent to get approval for building and development projects. While many people will find this helpful, others may find it confusing at first.
The Portal was first launched a few years ago with only a few Councils using it. Over time, more Councils joined and by July 2021 all NSW Councils were required to use it.
Will you Need to Use the Planning Portal?
You’ll only need to use the Planning Portal if your project needs Council approval – like a Development Application or Complying Development Certificate. You don’t need it for small renovations or projects that are considered Exempt Developments.
Why Was the Portal Created?
The Portal allows everyone involved in the approval process to submit, track and approve applications online. It includes a tracker and sends email updates to help avoid delays and miscommunication.
Who Uses the Portal?
- Homeowners and Property owners
- Developers
- Drafts people and Architects
- Certifiers
- Builders
- Councils
- State Government Agencies
Example: Building an Extension
Mr and Mrs Client want to extend their house into their backyard. They consult with a Builder and Draftsperson to get the ball rolling. Mr and Mrs Client engage the Draftsperson to draw their plans and to submit them to Council for approval.
The Draftsperson uploads the plans, application and any required attachments to the Planning Portal. Council accesses these on the Portal. They can request changes or additional documentation using the Planning Portal. The Portal sends emails requesting this directly to the Draftsperson.
Once the Development Application is approved, Mr and Mrs Client use the Planning Portal to appoint their Certifier and to complete their Construction Certificate application. Once appointed the Certifier begins preparations for the Construction Certificate. Mr and Mrs Client, the Draftsperson and the Builder will be asked to upload documentation such as
- Engineering reports and drawings
- Sydney Water building approval
- Dilapidation Reports
- Home Building Compensation Fund warranty insurance Certificates etc.
Each party can upload their documents directly as they become available. The Certifier issues the Construction Certificate after everything is uploaded and checked.
Once construction is complete and all Certifier inspections have passed, Mr and Mrs Client apply for their Occupation Certificate by uploading their application directly to the Planning Portal. The Certifier will likely request proof documents ie certificates. Again, each party can upload their documents directly to the Planning Portal.
How to Access the NSW Planning Portal?
You can find the Planning Portal on the NSW Government site under Planning, Industry and Environment.
To use it:
- Log in with your Service NSW account (recommended for homeowners), or
- create a Planning Portal account (better for frequent users).
Help and support
The Portal includes:
- How-to videos
- FAQs for different users (homeowners, developers, certifiers etc)
- Phone and email support.
We hope this helps you understand how the NSW Planning Portal works. We’re excited to keep learning and using it to better support our clients.
Phone us today on 0409 129 840 or submit an enquiry form if you have any questions about jobs requiring Council approval.
Milliken Builders obtained information for this blog from © State of New South Wales and Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
