Do I Need Neighbour Consent to Get My DA Approved?

In NSW, you do not need formal neighbour consent to get a development application (DA) approved.

However, in many cases, your neighbours will be notified about your proposal and given the chance to comment.

Council will consider those comments, but neighbour objections do not automatically mean your DA will be refused. What matters is whether your proposal meets the planning rules.

Once your DA is lodged, council may publicly notify it depending on the type and scale of the development.

For example, dual occupancies, second-storey additions and commercial change of use applications are usually advertised. Neighbours are given a set period, often 14 days, to submit their concerns in writing.

A town planner NSW based can guide you through this process and help respond to any objections.

You do not need neighbours to sign off or give written permission unless you are building across a shared boundary or proposing works that require access to their land.

Even in those situations, consent is typically handled after DA approval through separate agreements. We recently worked on a council submission for secondary dwelling NSW in Blacktown where the neighbour objected due to privacy concerns.

We revised the window design and submitted updated plans with our statement of environmental effects for NSW DA. Council approved the project without requiring neighbour consent.

If your proposal involves a variation to standard controls, such as setbacks or building height, council may take neighbour views more seriously.

In these cases, strong documentation, clear design reasoning and, if necessary, a Clause 4.6 variation request NSW can help secure approval.

Our town planning services for residential development NSW often include preparing these supporting documents and responding to NSW planning referrals during the assessment.

You may also need to provide additional reports if neighbours raise specific issues, such as overshadowing or noise. A heritage impact statement NSW town planning may be needed in conservation areas.

In one recent example, we helped a client with a planning permit NSW for a rear extension in a heritage-listed street in Parramatta.

The design was supported with diagrams showing no impact on adjoining properties, and the council issued approval despite two neighbour objections.

Working with a town planner near me specialising in NSW DCP helps avoid problems before they arise.

We assess potential issues from the start and offer planning advice to reduce risks.

If you are unsure how to get a DA approved in NSW, especially when neighbours might object, the key is to focus on compliance, good design and clear documentation.