What Scale Should Plans be Drawn at for CDC and DA?

When preparing a development application or CDC in New South Wales, using the correct drawing scale is critical.

It ensures that council planners and certifiers can read your plans accurately and assess compliance quickly.

At Town Planning Sydney, we follow standard drafting conventions so every drawing meets NSW planning expectations.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Scale refers to how a drawing represents real-world size

Most building plans are reduced to fit on paper.

A scale of 1:100 means 1 centimetre on the plan equals 1 metre in real life.

Getting the scale right ensures all dimensions are understood correctly by council or a private certifier.

2. Site plans are typically drawn at 1:200

A site plan shows the entire block, including the building footprint, setbacks, landscaping and boundaries.

For both DA and CDC submissions, the standard scale is 1:200. We ensure the north point, scale bar and legal site dimensions are included clearly.

3. Floor plans, elevations and sections are usually at 1:100

Most councils and certifiers expect architectural plans like floor layouts, roof plans, elevations and building sections at 1:100 scale.

This provides enough detail for approval without overcrowding the page. In some cases, such as large rural blocks, 1:200 may be accepted.

4. Detail drawings may need to be at 1:50 or 1:20

If your application includes complex construction features or design details, you may need to include close-up drawings at a larger scale.

For example, window or stair details are sometimes drawn at 1:50 or 1:20. We only include these where necessary to avoid confusion.

5. Shadow diagrams are also at 1:100 or 1:200

For DA approval, many councils require shadow diagrams that show overshadowing at 9am, 12pm and 3pm.

These are usually drawn at the same scale as your floor plans or site plan to maintain consistency.

6. Use the same scale across each plan type

Your floor plans, elevations and sections should be drawn at the same scale so that elements align properly.

We avoid mixing scales unless required for clarity, which helps prevent council approval delays.

7. Always include a scale bar and drawing title

Even if your plans are printed at the correct scale, council or certifiers will look for a clear scale bar.

We also label every drawing with a title, date, north point and revision number to meet NSW planning documentation standards.

8. Don’t rely on digital zooming, use correct scale on paper

Councils and certifiers often print your plans for internal review. Plans must be legible and scaled accurately on A3 or A1 paper.

As your planning consultant, we prepare plans ready for both digital and physical lodgement.

At Town Planning Sydney, we prepare every plan with precision, using the right scale, layout and annotations to support fast and successful DA approval.