How Do I Prepare Drawings for a Small Lot CDC?

Small lot developments in New South Wales are possible under the CDC pathway, but they require careful design and precise documentation.

Because the block size is smaller, your plans must show compliance with strict NSW planning controls.

At Town Planning Sydney, we prepare small lot CDC drawings that meet Housing Code rules and pass private certifier review the first time.

Here’s what you need to include.

1. Start with accurate site measurements

Small lots leave little room for error. Begin with a recent land survey showing boundaries, easements, levels and key features.

Your site plan should clearly show dimensions that match the survey exactly.

2. Show clear setbacks to boundaries

The Housing Code specifies minimum front, side and rear setbacks for small lots.

Your site plan must label these distances from the proposed building footprint to each property boundary.

We annotate both required and proposed setbacks to help certifiers check compliance quickly.

3. Include height and building envelope controls

Small lot CDC rules often require the building to fit within a specific height limit and building envelope.

We show maximum permitted height as a dashed line on elevation drawings and label the proposed height for comparison.

4. Demonstrate open space and landscaping compliance

Your plans must prove that you meet private open space, landscaping and deep soil requirements.

We shade and label these areas on the site plan and provide percentage calculations.

This is especially important when rear yards are compact.

5. Label all rooms, features and access points

Floor plans should be to scale, usually 1:100, and clearly label every room, door, window and circulation path.

We also mark driveway access, bin storage and clothesline areas, as these are common small lot CDC requirements.

6. Show drainage and stormwater management

With less available land, stormwater management must be well-documented.

We include roof water flow arrows, downpipe locations and discharge points. Certifiers often require drainage plans that match your site layout exactly.

7. Avoid inconsistencies between drawings

Private certifiers reject many small lot CDCs because different sheets show conflicting information.

We coordinate every plan so the site plan, floor plans, elevations and sections align perfectly.

8. Keep drawings clean and easy to read

Small site plans can become cluttered.

We keep annotations, symbols and hatching organised so certifiers can check compliance without confusion.

9. Seek expert planning advice before finalising

Small lot CDC projects have no flexibility, if a rule is not met, approval is impossible under the Housing Code.

Our planning consultants review your design early to confirm compliance before you spend money on full drafting.

With Town Planning Sydney, you get precision, clarity and planning advice built into every drawing set, giving your small lot CDC the best chance of fast approval.