What Happens After I Lodge a DA with Council?

Lodging a development application is a major milestone. In NSW, once your DA is submitted through the Planning Portal, it goes through a series of checks and assessments by your local council.

Knowing what to expect helps reduce stress and gives you the best chance of getting DA approval without unnecessary delays.

First, the council checks your application for completeness. This step usually takes a few business days.

If your submission is missing key documents such as architectural plans, a statement of environmental effects for NSW DA, or specialist reports, it will not be accepted. A town planner NSW based can ensure your submission meets all requirements from the outset.

Once accepted, your application enters the formal assessment stage.

A council planner reviews the proposal against the NSW planning framework, including the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP).

The planner checks zoning compliance, design, privacy, amenity and other impacts. Most applications are also publicly notified, allowing neighbours to comment.

In one recent project in Blacktown, we helped a client lodge a council submission for secondary dwelling NSW.

Because all documents were complete and the design complied with local controls, the application progressed without delay and received approval in under nine weeks.

During the review, the council may issue a Request for Information (RFI). This could involve plan revisions or additional reports, such as a heritage impact statement NSW town planning or drainage concept plan.

Our town planning services for residential development NSW include managing RFI responses and working with other consultants to maintain progress.

If your application proposes a variation to LEP standards, a Clause 4.6 variation request NSW will be reviewed at this stage.

After assessment, the council issues a determination. Your DA may be approved, approved with conditions or refused. If refused, you can either amend the proposal or seek a review.

A planning consultant will explain the outcome and help you prepare for construction, certification or resubmission. Post-approval steps often involve satisfying building regulations NSW or meeting consent conditions.

Even after submission, working with a town planner near me specialising in NSW DCP can help you respond quickly and maintain momentum.

Whether you're pursuing a planning permit NSW, a commercial change of use, or a dual occupancy project, expert support improves your chances of a smooth outcome.