50,000 +

People
Helped

387+ YRS

Collective
Experience

2.5 DAYS

How Often We
Get Approval

$500K

Potential Value
Added to Clients

DA approval, also called development consent, is council’s written decision allowing the development to go ahead, usually subject to conditions. Without it, many types of work are unauthorised, and owners can face orders, fines, or a requirement to demolish or undo the work.

In NSW the term “DA” is used across the board. In Victoria the equivalent is a planning permit application, and in Queensland it’s a development application under the Planning Act 2016. If you’re outside NSW, our Planning Application page explains how it works in your state.

1.

PATHWAY 1

Exempt Development

Minor works that need no approval at all, provided they meet strict standards. Small garden sheds and some decks can fall into this category.

2.

PATHWAY 3

CDC with Variations

For projects that are almost complying, with a small number of minor departures from standards such as setbacks, landscaping or lot width. Council has 10 days to approve the variation, or it’s deemed approved, instead of forcing you into a full DA.

3.

PATHWAY 5

Development Application (DA)

The full merit assessment by council. Needed when a project doesn’t fit the exempt or complying rules, or when the planning controls require one.

4.

PATHWAY 2

Complying Development (CDC)

A fast-track approval, in as little as 20 days, for straightforward projects that meet every standard in the relevant planning codes. Issued by council or a private certifier.

5.

PATHWAY 4

Targeted Assessment

A streamlined DA that bridges complying development and a full DA. Where strategic planning has already been done, council assesses only the key impacts, with a target of 50 days. Low-rise housing such as single dwellings, terraces and townhouses is expected to be first.

6.

PATHWAY 6

State Significant Development (SSD)

Large or complex projects of state importance, assessed by the NSW Department of Planning rather than your local council. Declared by type and scale under state planning policy.

      GOOD  
   Based on 460 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Benjamin Panos 
 9 September 2026
 
 
  I had a free 20min consultation on the phone with Tash and she was great! Informative, timely with her ph call, approachable. Would recommend.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   harry maher 
 25 August 2026
 
 
  I have worked alongside Grace on many occasions, Grace and Council Approval Group are very professional. I have always had a good experience.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Seo 
 9 August 2026
 
 
  Highly recommend Council Approval Group! Thanks to their team, we successfully received our council approval.

Coming into this with zero experience, I was initially unsure of what to do, but they walked me through everything step-by-step. Their deep expertise and clear communication kept the project moving seamlessly.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the whole team, especially Grace. Grace demonstrated true professionalism with clear guidance and effective solutions at every critical point, which built immense trust.

Without a doubt, 100 out of 100 service. Wishing the team continued success, and I hope many others benefit from their great service as well!"
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Charles Corby 
 9 August 2026
 
 
  We’ve now completed three projects with Council Approval Group and they’ve been fantastic every time. The team is professional, responsive, and genuinely easy to deal with — they make the approval process far less stressful. Highly recommend them to anyone doing renovation or development work.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   samantha mah 
 9 August 2026
 
 
  Council Approval Group has been excellent to work with. Jane and Tash took full ownership of our DA — from strategy through lodgement and council liaison — and made a complicated process feel manageable. Highly recommend.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Richard buck 
 8 August 2026
 
 
  We chose Council Approval Group for our subdivision because we needed the professional guidance to achieve our goal, Council Approval Group have a proven track record and as we needed a certain amount of hand holding Rupert the town planner has been a perfect match for our project and communication has been prompt and informative right through the project. We would recommend Council Approval Group for anyone going through this process it’s been a very positive experience for us and a clear and transparent  process.
Richard and Wendy Buck
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Maree Reay 
 7 August 2026
 
 
  We have engaged Council Approval Group to   assist us with applying for a DA which involves three adjoining properties, two requiring subdivision in order to provide access to a  building site for a family member. The Town Planner assigned to our project has been fantastic. He has given clear advice and  understanding of the particular dynamics of this project. We are still in the early stages of getting information needed for lodgement of the DA and feeling confident.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Jodie K 
 7 August 2026
 
 
  We have only just started our journey with Council Approval Group after receiving a Show Cause Notice for a retrospective build, but we couldn’t be happier with their help so far.

They have been incredibly professional, knowledgeable and supportive, taking the time to explain everything clearly and, most importantly, helping to relieve so much of the stress and uncertainty we were feeling.

We already feel confident knowing we have Council Approval Group guiding us through the process. We highly recommend them and look forward to continuing this journey with their support.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Angela Grigoryan 
 7 August 2026
 
 
  I had a consultation with the Justin and found them to be very helpful, supportive, and genuinely interested in assisting me. They took the time to understand my situation and provided clear guidance on the approval pathway that would best suit my needs at this stage. I really appreciated their professionalism, patience, and willingness to help.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Dee L 
 6 August 2026
 
 
  A big thank you to Shayne and the team at Council Approval Group for helping us get our development application submitted to Council.

It’s been a long journey getting to this point, and after more than a year of trying to get everything sorted, having our application finally submitted has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.

We really appreciate Shayne’s time, effort and guidance throughout the process and all his help in getting us to this stage. Looking forward to a great result with Council. Highly recommend!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Ely Jahjah 
 6 August 2026
 
 
  Really great communication and support from RUPERT as ni am building a warehouse and he has supported me through the whole process making it quite smooth.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Jenny Herdman 
 6 August 2026
 
 
  We have been working closely with the team to help us navigate all things we need for our permits. They have been patient, thorough and very professional.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Rob Harvy 
 6 August 2026
 
 
  I've had a really positive experience with Council Approval Group. I have an open development issue with the Council for unapproved works (unfortunately bought the property warts and all) which we've been able to determine the best way forwards in what is a pretty stressful experience! (Having the council chasing you with potential fines etc.). Having the experts take over for you makes a difference. Justin, Shane and Max have been very engaging!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Graeme Gillbanks 
 6 August 2026
 
 
  I thought that their presentation was really helpful and the team have a great understanding of the council processes and I would recommend them to anyone seeking council approvals. We did not proceed as our circumstances changed and everything was sorted out.
Thanks anyway, Regards Graeme.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Joey Ashby 
 5 August 2026
 
 
  Colin, Lauren, the numerous senior town planners, and the entire team at Council Approval Group are amazing people. If you’ve ever wished that someone in the property investing/development world would truly care about your project and you as a person and not just a number, then these are the kind of people you want to be working with.
The genuine care is amazing. They have assisted us in doing a dual occupancy subdivision on a standard residential block - something I thought you couldn’t do. But this is what they specialise in; finding ways to maximise your project.
If you have an existing property and are wondering what you might be able to do with it, or are looking at purchasing something as an investment and want to know what additional value could be added to the block, you are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t have a chat with these guys.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Chris Heath 
 5 August 2026
 
 
  I have had a great experience so far with Council Approval Group. They have given me some great advice as to how to progress my building plans which had been in limbo for nearly 2 years with several roadblocks. More recently I have engaged them to revisit my architectural plans and have been working with Giuseppe Calabrese who has been very responsive to my requests and come up with some great ideas to progress my plans though council.
  
 
     Posted on Product Review  
   
   Cameron 
 24 June 2026
 
 
 Verified Great team and easy to work with. They understood my plans and helped them become a reality. I will definitely be working with Council Approval Group for my future projects.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Tegan 
 19 June 2026
 
 
  Rupert was very helpful in having weekly meeting with our company. He guided us in the right direction and steps to take to move forward in our property development process.
  
 
     Posted on Product Review  
   
   Hans 
 16 June 2026
 
 
 Verified An excellent team getting us through to the end goal! We have been supported and guided through the process of obtaining the appropriately zoned property for our business. We have exactly what we want now. Thank you team!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Michael Tuckerman 
 15 June 2026
 
 
  Great service

Our 9-Step Pathway to Council DA Approval

Most people treat a DA as paperwork. We treat it as a strategy. Refined over 30 years and more than 50,000 properties, our pathway puts an experienced town planner in charge from day one, with every report prepared and signed off by qualified professionals, and takes the work, the risk and the stress off your plate at every stage of council DA approval.

1.

PHASE 1 · STEPS 1–4

Plan It Right

Lodging a DA when a CDC was possible, or the reverse.

2.

PHASE 2 · STEPS 5–7

Get It Through Council

We lodge it complete and manage council for you.

3.

PHASE 3 · STEPS 8–9

Get Building

We see you through to the final certificate.

PHASE 1

Plan It Right

1

START HERE · IT’S FREE

Your FREE Consultation

Every project on our pathway starts with a conversation, at no cost.

✓
Talk to one of our property consultants about your property and what you want to build

✓
Find out whether your project is the right fit for our pathway

✓
Leave knowing your next step, which for most projects is a Preliminary Planning Assessment

BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULT →

2

Preliminary Planning Assessment

Before a single line is drawn, we find out exactly what your site can achieve.

HOW WE HELP

✓Our town planners assess your site against the LEP, DCP, SEPPs and constraints like flood, bushfire and heritage

✓We confirm the right approval pathway for your project

✓Your assessment draws on 30 years and 50,000+ properties of council experience, not a generic template

✓We flag risks early and uncover value you didn’t know was there

✓Unlike a council pre-lodgement meeting, a PPA shows what your property could achieve, not just what council might object to

Why not a cheap AI-generated report?

Some newer, low-cost firms now use AI to churn out planning reports. A generic report that misreads your site’s controls can steer you down the wrong pathway, and you pay for it later in council requests, redesigns or refusal.

Your PPA is prepared and signed off by an experienced town planner,backed by 30 years and more than 50,000 properties.

START WITH A PPA →

3

Your Dedicated Town Planner Takes the Lead

Unlike a draftsman-led DA, a planning expert runs your project from strategy to determination.

✓
Your town planner project manages our architects and every specialist consultant

✓
Every document is checked against one planning strategy before it reaches council

✓
They write your Statement of Environmental Effects: the planning argument for why your project should be approved

LEARN HOW A TOWN PLANNER CAN PROJECT MANAGE →

4

REGISTERED ARCHITECTS IN-HOUSE

Plans by Our In-House Registered Architects

Not just designers. Registered architects who can design every class of building, working side by side with your town planner.

HOW WE HELP

✓Our registered architects prepare your Architect Plans for Council, whatever you’re building

✓They design to the planning controls from day one, so there are no costly redraws after council objects

✓One team, one strategy: no briefing an outside drafter, and no gaps between your plans and your planning argument

✓We tell you which reports you need (BASIX, survey, flood, bushfire, traffic and more) and coordinate every consultant

Why a registered architect, not a building designer?

Every building class. From granny flats and homes to townhouses, apartments, commercial and industrial buildings.
Apartment-ready. Residential apartment projects in NSW need a registered architect to verify the design. We have them in-house.
Professionally accountable. Registered architects are bound by a professional code of conduct and registration standards.

Granny Flats
Dual Occupancies
Duplexes
Townhouses
Apartments
Extensions
Boarding Houses
Medical Centres
Cafes & Retail
Gyms
Warehouses
Farm Stays

TALK TO OUR ARCHITECTS ABOUT YOUR PROJECT →

PHASE 2

Get It Through Council

5

We Lodge Your Development Application

We check every document before it goes in, so your DA is complete first time.

✓We lodge your full Development Application through the NSW Planning Portal

✓We manage the fees and portal requirements for you

✓Incomplete DAs can be rejected before assessment starts. Ours go in complete.

GET YOUR DA LODGED RIGHT →

6

Neighbour Notification and Submissions

We answer objections with a planning argument, not an argument.

✓We review every submission from neighbours and the public

✓We prepare a considered planning response. An objection doesn’t mean refusal when it’s properly addressed.

GET HELP WITH OBJECTIONS →

7

Assessment and Council Liaison

Where DIY applications stall for months, ours keep moving.

✓Council assesses your DA against the planning controls, and your town planner stays across every stage

✓Our Council Requests Management service answers every request for further information

✓We manage the relationship with your assessment officer. You don’t chase council. We do.

LET US DEAL WITH COUNCIL →

PHASE 3

Get Building

8

Determination and Conditions of Consent

We don’t hand you an approval and walk away.

✓We walk you through every condition: before, during and after construction

✓If the result isn’t right, we advise on amending the design, a review or an appeal

TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR CONDITIONS →

9

After DA Approval

One team, from your first consult to your final certificate.

✓DA approval isn’t the finish line. You’ll usually need a Construction Certificate before building starts.

✓Our Construction & Subdivision Certificate service takes you from approval through to building

PLAN YOUR PATH TO BUILDING →

1.

Preliminary Planning Assessment (Research & Feasibility)

Before anything is drawn, you need to know exactly what the planning controls allow on your site. That means checking:

zoning under the Local Environmental Plan (LEP)
controls in the Development Control Plan (DCP)
any State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs) that apply
site constraints such as flooding, bushfire, heritage, easements and trees

Many people’s first instinct is to book a pre-lodgement meeting with council. The trouble is that council’s job is to assess your project, not to advocate for it. A pre-lodgement meeting can tell you what council may object to. It won’t tell you what your property could achieve, or how to structure your project to get the best result.

That’s why we start every project with a Preliminary Planning Assessment (PPA) . Our town planners confirm the right approval pathway, flag risks before you spend money on plans, and often uncover opportunities you didn’t know existed. For some clients, this one step has added hundreds of thousands of dollars in value.

2.

Preliminary Planning Assessment (Research & Feasibility)

Once the strategy is set, your dedicated Council Approval Group town planner becomes the lead consultant on your project. They coordinate the designers and specialist consultants, keep everyone working to the same planning strategy, and make sure every document is consistent before anything reaches council.

Your town planner also writes the most important document in your application: the Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE). This is the planning argument for why your project should be approved. A well-written SEE anticipates council’s concerns and answers them before they’re raised. A thin one leaves council with no reason to say yes.

3.

Architectural Plans Designed for Council Approval

Plans drawn without planning input are one of the most common reasons DAs stall or get refused. Our in-house design team prepares Architect Plans for Council
working hand in hand with your town planner, so the design is shaped by the planning controls from day one. You don’t pay for plans that were never going to get approved.

Depending on your project, the application may also need:

A BASIX certificate (NSW residential)
Specialist reports (traffic, stormwater, arborist, bushfire, flood, heritage and more)
Survey plans
A cost estimate for the development

We tell you exactly which reports your project needs, and which it doesn’t, and coordinate the consultants on your behalf.

4.

Architectural Plans Designed for Council Approval

In NSW, DAs are lodged online through the NSW Planning Portal. We prepare and lodge your full Development Application,
check that every required document is included, and manage the fees and portal requirements. Incomplete applications can be rejected before assessment even begins. Ours go in complete.

5.

Neighbour Notification and Submissions

Most DAs are notified to neighbours, and some are publicly exhibited. If objections come in, we review them and prepare a considered planning response. Objections don’t automatically mean refusal, but they do need to be addressed properly, and we make sure they are.

6.

Assessment and Council Liaison

This is when councils issue requests for further information (RFIs), and it’s where many DIY applications stall for months. Through ourCouncil Requests Management
service, your town planner handles every request, manages the relationship with your assessment officer, and keeps your application moving. You don’t have to chase council. We do it for you.

7.

Determination and Conditions of Consent

When council determines your application, we review the notice of determination and conditions of consent with you. Some conditions must be met before construction starts, some during construction, and some before occupation. If the outcome isn’t what we expected, we’ll advise you on the options, including amending the design, requesting a review or appealing.

8.

After DA Approval

Construction & Subdivision Certificate
service takes you from approval through to building, so one team stays with you from the first consult to the final certificate.

1.

Wrong approval pathway

Lodging a DA when a CDC was possible, or the reverse.

2.

Designing before checking the controls

Plans that were never going to comply with height, setback, FSR or landscaping.

3.

A thin Statement of Environmental Effects

Council can’t approve what hasn’t been justified.

4.

Missing specialist reports

A bushfire or flood report requested mid-assessment can add months.

5.

Poor communication with council

RFIs left unanswered, or answered without addressing the concern.

6.

Unresolved neighbour objections

Overshadowing, privacy and parking need a considered response.

RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

RURAL

But council DA approval is a technical, legal process that rewards experience. The cost of getting it wrong is rarely just the lodgement fee. It’s redesign costs, holding costs, months of delay, and sometimes a missed opportunity to add real value to your property

	Draftsman-led DA	Town planner-led DA
Knows the law	Draws to building requirements	Works with the EP&A Act, LEPs, DCPs and SEPPs every day
Speaks council’s language	Relies on council to raise the issues	Many have worked inside council and know how DAs are assessed
Builds the planning argument	Can’t justify a variation	Prepares the SEE and variation justifications
Shapes the design	Plans redrawn after objections	Plans drawn to fit the controls from day one
Manages the process	Hands over plans, then steps back	Leads reports, consultants, RFIs and objections to determination

At Council Approval Group you get both: experienced

town planners

leading your application, and an in-house design team preparing plans built for approval. That’s the combination that gives your project the greatest chance of success.

1.

Reduced Risk

Getting council approval alone is difficult (not to mention the increased risk of refusal for a DIY Approval). We provide you with the greatest chance of approval.

2.

Extensive Experience

For 30 years with over 50,000 projects, we have experience across all development types. Expert Guidance for a stress-free process

3.

Reduced Stress

Our knowledgeable planners guide you through every step, saving you time and stress.

4.

One-Stop Shop

From planning, to design, to post-consent services, our in-house design team provides it all, so you don’t waste money on plans that won’t get approved.

5.

Maximised Potential

We specialise in maximising your project’s investment potential, which gives you superior development outcomes.

6.

Project Management

Our team manages all the regulatory paperwork, so you can sit back and relax without spending hours going back and forth with council.

7.

Council Liaison

We manage the relationship with your Council Development Assessment Officer, which means your project will have the best representation possible.

8.

Simplified Approvals

We live and breathe approvals, making it look easy. On average we receive an approval every 2.5 days.

1

Claim Your FREE 30-Minute Consult

Talk to one of our property consultants about your property and what you want to build.

2

Get a Preliminary Planning Assessment

We identify the right pathway, flag risks early, and often uncover hidden value.

3

We Prepare & Submit Your DA or CDC

Our town planners and architects manage council through to determination, with a 98% success rate.* CLAIM YOUR FREE CONSULT

<br />

What is the difference between a DA and a CDC?

A DA is a merit-based assessment by council that can consider variations to the controls. A CDC is a fast-track approval for projects that meet every numerical standard in the relevant code. A PPA will tell you which applies to your project.

How much does DA approval cost?

Costs vary with the project. You’ll typically pay council lodgement fees plus the cost of plans, a Statement of Environmental Effects and any specialist reports. Getting the scope right at the start is the best way to avoid paying for documents twice.

Can I build before I get council DA approval?

No. Starting work without approval can lead to stop-work orders, fines and demolition orders. If work has already been done, we can help you regularise it.

Who will work on my application?

Our team of 20+ town planners, architects and property consultants is led by founder Max Fragar, who brings 50 years of town planning and council approval experience.

Which areas do you service?

Our team currently has the capacity to assist clients with projects across Australia.

How Long Does DA Approval Take?

It depends on the project type, the council, the complexity of the site, the quality of the application and whether there are objections. A simple residential DA might be determined within a couple of months. A larger or contentious project can take much longer.

The biggest delays usually come from things within your control: incomplete applications, weak planning arguments, plans that don’t comply, and slow responses to council requests. Get those right and you remove most of the waiting.

Let us help you...

Get DA Approval

PATHWAY 1

Exempt Development

PATHWAY 3

CDC with Variations

PATHWAY 5

Development Application (DA)

PATHWAY 2

Complying Development (CDC)

PATHWAY 4

Targeted Assessment

PATHWAY 6

State Significant Development (SSD)

PHASE 1 · STEPS 1–4

Plan It Right

PHASE 2 · STEPS 5–7

Get It Through Council

PHASE 3 · STEPS 8–9

Get Building

Plan It Right

Your FREE Consultation

Preliminary Planning Assessment

Your Dedicated Town Planner Takes the Lead

Plans by Our In-House Registered Architects

Get It Through Council

We Lodge Your Development Application

Neighbour Notification and Submissions

Assessment and Council Liaison

Get Building

Determination and Conditions of Consent

After DA Approval

Preliminary Planning Assessment (Research & Feasibility)

Preliminary Planning Assessment (Research & Feasibility)

Architectural Plans Designed for Council Approval

Architectural Plans Designed for Council Approval

Neighbour Notification and Submissions

Assessment and Council Liaison

Determination and Conditions of Consent

After DA Approval

Wrong approval pathway

Designing before checking the controls

A thin Statement of Environmental Effects

Missing specialist reports

Poor communication with council

Unresolved neighbour objections

RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

RURAL

Reduced Risk

Extensive Experience

Reduced Stress

One-Stop Shop

Maximised Potential

Project Management

Council Liaison

Simplified Approvals