• After your development application is approved and you have obtained development consent you must appoint a Principal Certifying Authority (PCA).
• A PCA ensures that the development complies with:
  • the development application;
  • the Building Code of Australia; and
  • the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW).
• A PCA can be a local council or a private accredited certifier.
• If you hire a private accredited certifier you must inform the council before commencing work on the property. Most councils have specific forms for this purpose and you should comply with any notification guidelines for your local council.

• You will need to notify the council about:
  • who you have chosen to be your PCA;
  • when you will be starting the work; and
  • the builder who will be doing the work.
• It is important to obtain a construction certificate before commencing any work on the property. A construction certificate is an approval certificate from a PCA and without it you cannot commence work on the property.
• You can apply for a construction certificate when you apply for development consent.

You do not need to apply for a construction certificate for a complying development.