NSW Building Approval Costs for Owners, Builders & Certifiers — NSW Building Approval Costs & Requirements

One Platform. Three Perspectives.

Whether you're the property owner, the builder, or the certifier — ApprovalAssist gives you the information you need, when you need it.

I'm an Owner I'm a Builder I'm a Certifier

The NSW building approval process is complex

Fees nobody told you about. Documents you didn't know you needed. Inspections that hold up your build. Council rules buried in 300-page PDFs. ApprovalAssist cuts through all of it — for every person involved.

For Property Owners

Know what it's going to take
before you start

You're renovating or building. You've got a budget. But do you know the real cost? The council fees, the bonds, the levy, the certifier, the engineer, the fire report, the acoustic report? ApprovalAssist gives you the full picture — specific to your address — before you commit a dollar.

💰
Every hidden cost exposed
Section 7.12 contributions, Long Service Levy, HBCF insurance, damage bonds, stormwater bonds — itemised with actual amounts for your project.
📄
Complete document checklist
Know exactly what documents, certificates, and reports you need — at every stage from DA/CDC through to your Occupation Certificate.
🏗
Your property's DCP rules
Setbacks, height limits, FSR, parking — filtered to your specific zone and overlays. Not a 300-page council dump.
📊
Track your progress to OC
Upload your documents, see what's missing, download a pack for your certifier. Full Case gives you a process tracker from CDC/DA through to OC.
Why owners use it
✓ Know exactly what you need to get
✓ Single source of truth for your project
✓ No surprise costs mid-build
✓ No chasing the certifier for updates
✓ Compare CDC vs DA pathways
✓ Know which bonds you get back
Start with your Report — $39+GST See Example Report
Your Property Report
YOUR ADDRESS HERE
Total Compliance Cost
$26,534 — $39,540
9%–13% of construction cost
$11,534
Fees & Levies
$15,000
Bonds
$17,500+
Practitioners
📄 Documents required19
🏆 Certificates required16
🔍 Mandatory inspections12
👷 Practitioners needed8
🏗 DCP controlsFiltered to your zone
Document Tracker
14 Harbour View Drive — Class 2 CDC
Progress 14 of 19 covered
✓ Architectural Plans Uploaded
✓ Structural Engineering Certificate Uploaded
✓ BASIX Certificate Uploaded
○ Waterproofing Certificate Missing
○ Glazing Certificate Missing
Process Tracker
CDC Issued → CC Issued → Construction → Final Inspection → OC
For Builders

Never get held up
by missing paperwork

You know the build. But the compliance side can blindside you — a missing certificate holds up an inspection, a forgotten bond delays your CC, a document you didn't know about blocks your OC. ApprovalAssist tells you everything upfront so nothing catches you mid-build.

☑
Stage-by-stage checklist
Know exactly what's needed before CDC, during construction, pre-inspection, and before OC. No surprises at each gate.
📊
Document tracker with gap analysis
Upload what you have, instantly see what's missing. AI classifies every document automatically — no manual sorting.
📦
Certifier pack download
When it's time for your OC, download everything your Principal Certifier needs in one zip file. No scrambling.
💰
Quote with confidence
Run a report for any address and know the full compliance cost before you quote. Include every fee, bond, and practitioner cost in your price.
Why builders use it
✓ Projects completed faster
✓ Less time chasing paperwork
✓ Full downloadable audit trail
✓ No inspection holdups from missing certs
✓ Quote compliance costs accurately
✓ One-click certifier pack at OC time
Get Full Case — $199+GST
For Principal Certifiers

Stop chasing clients
for documents

Your clients don't know what they need. You spend half your time explaining requirements and chasing missing documents. ApprovalAssist does the explaining for you — and LiveLink gives you a shared portal where you can see exactly where each case stands.

🔗
LiveLink shared case portal
Your client creates a case, links you as their certifier. You see their document progress in real time — no emails, no phone calls.
🤖
AI document classification
Every document uploaded is automatically classified, summarised, and matched to requirements. You see what's been submitted without opening a single file.
✎
Correct requirements
You're the authority. Flag items as not required, add missing requirements, change stages. Your corrections update the client's view instantly.
☑
OC checklist parsing
Upload your OC checklist PDF and it's automatically parsed into structured items. Outstanding items are highlighted for your client.
⭐
Practitioner directory listing
Get listed in the directory. Clients searching for a certifier in your area find you, see your accreditations, and can link you directly to their case.
Why certifiers use it
✓ All documents in one place
✓ Full downloadable audit trail
✓ Less admin, more projects
✓ Clients come prepared
✓ Automatically keep clients up to date
✓ Take on more projects with less overhead
Create a Case — $199+GST Learn More
LiveLink Case
14 Harbour View Drive — Renovation Class 2 CDC
Your Active Cases 3 of 5 slots used
Document Tracker 8 of 12 covered
✓ Architectural Plans
✓ Structural Engineering
○ Fire Safety Report Missing
− Heritage Assessment Not Required
− Heritage Assessment — Removed by you
Reason: Not heritage-listed per S10.7 certificate

How It All Connects

ApprovalAssist isn't three separate tools — it's one system where everyone sees the same case, the same documents, the same requirements.

🏠

Owner

Runs a report for their address. Sees every cost and requirement. Upgrades to Full Case to track progress and upload documents.

$39 Report → $199 Full Case
🛠

Builder

Uses the document tracker to stay ahead of compliance. Uploads certificates as they come in. Downloads the certifier pack when ready for OC.

$199 Full Case
✅

Certifier

Gets linked to the case via LiveLink. Sees document progress, uploads OC checklist, corrects requirements. Clients come prepared.

$199/case — no subscription
Anyone can create a case — Owner, Builder, or Certifier
Creator pays $199 → Invites the others → Everyone sees the same portal → OC issued
No subscription. No lock-in. Pay per case.

Ready to get started?

$39 for a Report. $199 for a Full Case. No subscription, no lock-in.

I'm an Owner I'm a Builder I'm a Certifier