What Are the Fees for a DA in My Council Area?

When you're planning to renovate, extend or build something new, one of the first questions you're likely to ask is, “How much will it cost to lodge a Development Application (DA)?”.

As a town planning company based in NSW, we’re often approached by homeowners and developers needing help understanding what their local council charges and what those fees actually cover.

Fees Vary Between Councils

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer.

DA fees differ from one local government area to the next in NSW.

They’re based on a number of factors including the estimated cost of the development, the type of project (residential or commercial), and whether you're applying for DA approval, a planning permit NSW, or submitting a development application for something more complex like dual occupancy or subdivision approval.

As a guide, a typical residential DA might incur fees ranging from $300 to over $3,000 depending on the scale of the works.

For example, a new single dwelling in Blacktown Council may cost around $1,200 in DA fees, while a secondary dwelling in Inner West Council may incur separate application, notification and referral fees totalling closer to $2,000.

What Do DA Fees Include?

DA fees generally cover council’s administration, notification of neighbours, internal referrals (such as to traffic or heritage officers), and the time taken to assess your plans.

If your project requires a heritage impact statement from NSW town planning, a statement of environmental effects for NSW DA, or an expert Clause 4.6 variation request, these will often attract extra costs either through council or external consultants.

We recently assisted a client in Ryde looking to convert a commercial tenancy into a massage clinic.

In addition to the DA lodgement fee, the council imposed advertising fees and a change-of-use assessment fee.

Our role as their planning consultant included identifying these costs early so the client wasn’t caught off guard.

Additional or Hidden Charges

Some developments trigger additional charges.

Bushfire or flood-prone land, for example, often require referrals to the Rural Fire Service or specialist reports.

Councils like Hornsby or Northern Beaches may also apply contributions under Section 7.11 or 7.12 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, based on a percentage of your development’s cost.

Working with a town planner NSW familiar with your local DCP can save time and avoid mistakes.

For example, we recently prepared a council submission for a secondary dwelling in NSW that involved complex drainage requirements.

Because we understood the building regulations NSW and the local DCP, we flagged likely costs early and ensured the DA moved through the process with minimal delays.

Get the Right Planning Advice Early

Understanding DA fees is just one part of navigating NSW planning.

If you're unsure how to get a DA approved in NSW, it’s important to get detailed planning advice early, especially for more complex projects requiring town planning services for residential development NSW or commercial change of use.

The cost of a DA can be managed with the right preparation, a clear scope and the support of a knowledgeable NSW town planning consultant.