Building Information Certificates NSW
Sort out unapproved building work before it puts your property at risk
Many NSW properties have building work that was never signed off on. A deck, a garage, or a renovation went ahead without a Development Consent or Construction Certificate, or an inspection got missed somewhere along the way.
A Building Information Certificate is how you get that work formally on the record with the council. At Sorensen Design & Planning, we help property owners across NSW manage the Building Information Certificate application process from start to finish. Our team works alongside your local council to get a clear, documented outcome for your property. Contact us to discuss your situation and find out where you stand.
What is a Building Information Certificate?
A Building Information Certificate is a formal document issued by the local council under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. Councils issue them for building work that never went through the proper planning or certification process, whether that's a Construction Certificate that was never applied for, an inspection that was skipped, or a structure with no approval at all.
Carrying out building work without the required approval is illegal, and the council can pursue the matter through the NSW Land and Environment Court if it stays unresolved, including seeking a demolition order in serious cases. A current Building Information Certificate changes that position. Once issued, the council can't take action to demolish, alter, or add to the work it covers for seven years, and that protection carries over to future owners as well.
Any person with an interest in the land, including an owner, purchaser, or mortgagee, can apply. It's a practical way to draw a line under unresolved building work and get certainty on the record.
When you might need a Building Information Certificate
- A deck, garage, pool, or other structure was built without a Development Consent or Construction Certificate
- A critical stage inspection was missed during construction, even though the work itself had approval
- You've received correspondence from the council questioning whether a structure was approved
- You're preparing a property for sale and want unresolved building work sorted before it becomes a buyer's problem
- You want certainty before signing a contract or lodging a Development Application that depends on existing structures
How the Building Information Certificate process works
At Sorensen Design, we manage every stage of the Building Information Certificate process for unauthorised or non-compliant building work, from the initial review through to the council's final decision.
#1: Reviewing the property's history
We start by reviewing the property's history, including any Development Consent, Construction Certificate, or Occupation Certificate on file. We confirm what building work has actually happened and compare it against the approved plans the council holds. This tells us exactly what the application needs to address.
#2: Identifying the right supporting documents
Every application needs to be backed by the right paperwork, and this changes depending on the work and the land it sits on. Council may request survey plans, detailed plans, a planning assessment statement, or an engineering report, and land-specific factors such as bushfire risk, flooding, or heritage can add further reporting requirements. Our multidisciplinary team coordinates with engineers and other consultants to compile the right reports.
#3: Preparing and lodging the application
We prepare the Building Information Certificate application and lodge it with the relevant local council, often through the NSW planning portal. Before we submit, we outline exactly what's being requested and why, so you know what to expect. Councils have specific requirements, and getting it right the first time helps avoid delays.
#4: Council's assessment and decision
The council assesses the application against current planning controls and the approvals already attached to the land, then issues one of three outcomes: the certificate, a certificate with conditions, or a refusal.
If the council refuses, you can appeal to the NSW Land and Environment Court, though a well-prepared application makes this a low-risk outcome rather than a likely one.
Why work with Sorensen Design for your Building Information Certificate?
Our team has spent more than two decades coordinating the regulatory side of building projects across NSW, including plenty of cases where work went ahead without the right approvals. We understand what councils expect to see and how to present an application that addresses compliance questions clearly, which cuts down on back and forth and keeps things moving.
A Building Information Certificate application rarely stands alone. If our review turns up work that was never the subject of a Development Application, we'll talk you through the options, and our multidisciplinary team coordinates with engineers and other consultants to make sure the full picture is covered.
We work directly with you throughout, explaining each stage in plain language and confirming your obligations and any costs before you take the next step. It's a collaborative process built around getting unauthorised building work resolved, and a result you can rely on.
Why choose us?
- We have been established since 2002 and are multi-award winning building designers and town planners
- We have just been awarded the 2022 HIA Residential Design Award Winner!
- We have just recognised as a finalist in the 2022 BDAA National Design Awards in the Multi-Residential Buildings Category, for our Burbong Street Dual Occupancy
- We have been members of the Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA) continuously since 2004
- Our Director Adrian Sorensen is an open accredited chartered building designer with the Building Designers of Australia Association (BDAA), with over 25 years of building design experience
- We use licensed copies of archicad software, so we can produce high resolution 3D images of your project
- All of our staff are fully qualified with multiple years of building design and town planning experience
- We are a dedicated and enthusiastic company that services a wide area. However, we only take on a sufficient amount of clients to provide service of the highest levels
- We are familiar with all council requirements, lodging your development application (DA) on your behalf, as well as engaging all other sub consultants e.g. structural engineers and surveyors where required
- Our most recent award proudly is the 2022 HIA Residential Design Award Winner!
- Winner of numerous other BDAA awards for renovations, new houses, multi-residential design, dual occupancy, alterations and additions, as well as bathrooms, kitchens and interiors
- We are passionate about what we do!
Other services we can help you with
FAQs about Building Information Certificates in NSW
