Residential Drafting Design FAQ - What is a Construction Certificate?

Congratulations for getting your approval for your Development Application, what's next? Can I start building now?

Unforunately, after you received your DA you will still need your CC before you can proceed with the "digging work!"

What is a CC?

A Construction Certificate (CC) is a certificate that is issued by an accredited private certifier or a consent authority, sometimes the council.  This certificate allows for building work to commence on a project. You can not start any digging work without a CC approval.

What does a CC do?

A Construction Certificate is an approval that:

• Makes sure that the detailed construction plans and specifications comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and any other relevant Australian standard.
• Certifies that the detailed construction plans and specifications are consistent with the Development Consent.
• Certifies that the relevant development consent conditions have been complied with.

What is in a CC?

After receiving your approved DA documents, it generally comes with a few pages of what I called, "conditions", where minor changes are required for the design and that detailed construction documents are to be submitted. 

Generally with a CC, it includes the following items:

• Architectural Drawings - generally amendments required from the council
• Structural Design details and documentations - a higher level of details are required for structural work
• Hydraulics Design details and documentations - again, a higher level of design and details for stormwater design of rainwater tank, infiltration tanks and pumping system where required
• Sydney Water check - checking that your proposal does not affect work with the board sewer lines
• Long service Levy & S94 bond - a payment required for contribution to govenment bodies
• Council deposit bond - a damage bond required in case of damages during the construction
• BASIX - updates of a spreadsheet for thermal, acoustic and environmental effect
• Certification Fee - either through a Private certified authority or the council

How long does it take for my CC to get approved?

If all the documents are done properly and in a smooth flow, the approval stage will required as little as 10 days.

How long does my CC valid for?

A Construction Certificate is generally valid for 5 years, however it is only valid while the Development Consent is still in date, so works must be commenced before the Development Consent lapses.

Who should I engage to do my CC?

At Go Design Solutions, we do DA and CC for our clients, so it is a one-stop-service. We have a list of engineers that we engage to get the work done properly. Speak to us today and we can assist you.