Building Information Certificate

Building Information Certificates are usually sought by buyers or sellers of a property to make sure that a particular building and its land can remain as is without regulatory action being taken by Council. The certificate can apply for whole or part of a building and is valid for seven years.

Online

Step 1.Register or log in

To apply for a Building Information Certificate online, you must be registered to log in via the NSW Planning Portal.

Register or log in

Step 2.Gather documents

Different documents must be submitted with your application depending on the type of Building Information Certificate you are applying for.

All submissions must include certification of installation of smoke alarms.

There are two types of Building Information Certificates:

  1. Minor Residential Development

This certificate type is for dwellings and multiple-dwelling houses. To obtain a Minor Residential Development Building Information Certification, you'll need to submit a current survey of the property for your application. The survey must be a true representation of all structures on the land at the time you submit your application.

2. Residential Flat Buildings, Commercial or Industrial Development

For this certificate type, you'll need to submit a current floor plan of the subject premises and site locality plan with your application.

For properties with unauthorised works, applicants will need to submit:

  • an original certified copy of a current Identification Survey Certificate
  • an explanation from the property owner as to why the works were completed without appropriate approval
  • a full set of construction plans indicating the preexisting site/works and unauthorised works
  • payment of the Development Application, Complying Development and/or Construction Certificate fees, as per the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000.

For further advice, contact our Customer Service Centre on (02) 4921 0333 (Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm) and ask to speak with the Duty Officer.

Step 3.Lodge

Once you have all the required documentation, you're ready to lodge your Building Information Certificate. You'll need to upload electronic versions of the required documentation in order to complete your application.

Apply now via NSW Planning Portal

Step 4.Pay

Lodgement fees will be calculated by Council staff and provided to you in writing after we've received your Building Information Certificate.
Your Building Information Certificate will not be determined until all outstanding fees have been paid.

Find out if you can apply

An application for a Building Information Certificate can be lodged by:

  • anyone with the property owner's consent
  • the owner's solicitor or agent
  • a purchaser who has entered into a contract to purchase the property
  • a purchaser's solicitor or agent
  • any public authority that has notified the owner of its intention to apply for the certificate

An inspection is required

Once we've received your application for a Building Information Certificate, we will inspect the building and review any relevant Council records and documentation submitted as part of the application. We may request further information before we can issue your certificate.

We will usually inspect the property within 10 working days. This timeframe may differ if illegal or unauthorised works are involved.

An additional inspection fees will be payable if we need to carry out more than one inspection, or if the floor area of the building is greater than your application states.

A point to remember

A Building Information Certificate does not prevent Council from issuing notices or orders in relation to unauthorised works or fire safety matters, and it does not certify that the building complies with legal and safety requirements relating to swimming pool barriers and fencing, fire safety and other public health and safety matter.

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