Check

To develop, use or subdivide land you will often need to submit a development application (DA) to Council and obtain development consent. There are two exceptions to this which are described below.

Exempt Development

Many minor developments are classed as exempt development. Exempt developments are minor works including balconies, decks and verandahs, fences and minor internal and external building alterations.

Exempt development does not require a DA. However, to be exempt development it must fully comply with State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008. Review the links below to check if your development complies:

Some of the most commonly reviewed exempt developments types allowed by Part 2 of State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 include:

• Balconies, Decks, Patios, Pergolas, Terraces and Verandahs

• Cabanas, Cubby Houses, Ferneries, Garden Sheds, Gazebos and Greenhouses

• Carports

• Earthworks, Retaining Walls and Structural Support

• Fences (certain residential zones and Zone RU5)

• Home Businesses, Home Industries and Home Occupations

Camden Local Environmental Plan 2010 also classes some minor works as exempt development. The requirements to be fully complied with for those exempt developments are detailed in:

• Clause 3.1 of Camden Local Environmental Plan 2010,
• Clause 3.3 of Camden Local Environmental Plan 2010, and
• Schedule 2 of Camden Local Environmental Plan 2010 (only those requirements relating to the proposed exempt development).

The Department of Planning and Environment provides additional resources to help you learn more about exempt development.

Complying Development

Many developments are classed as complying development. Complying developments are typically larger than exempt developments and include the construction of new dwelling houses, swimming pools and changing the use of buildings.

Complying development does not require a DA. Instead, a Complying Development Certificate must be obtained from either Council or a registered certifier. However, to be complying development it must fully comply with requirements set by the NSW State government. The requirements are detailed in:

• Clauses 1.17, 1.17A, 1.18, 1.19 and 1.19A of State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008, and
• the relevant parts of State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 relating to the proposed complying development:

The Department of Planning and Environment provides additional resources to help you learn more about complying development.

Development and Heritage

For information regarding development and heritage, please refer to Council’s Heritage Planning and Heritage Related Development webpages.

ePlanning Spatial Viewer

The Department of Planning and Environment has developed an ePlanning Spatial Viewer. The viewer provides access to planning information for property which will assist in determining whether a development can be exempt or complying development.