What is Development

What is development?

'Development' is the word used by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to generally define the following activities:

  • the use of land
  • the subdivision of land
  • the erection of a building or structure
  • the carrying out of work
  • the demolition of a building or work
  • any other act, matter or thing referred to in an environmental planning instrument.

Approval is generally required before carrying out any form of Development except where the Development is deemed Exempt Development by the State Environmental Planning policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008.

A Development Application (DA) is a formal application made with Council requesting permission to carry out a specific type of Development on a parcel of land.

Approval to carry out certain low scale types of Development can also be obtained by way of applying for a Complying Development Certificate.