Please find below some commonly asked questions. Should you require any further information contact us on (02) 9944 8222.

A: Once you have received from your Local Council the Development Consent approval (DA Approval) with development conditions and the Council stamped plan you need to do the following:

• Obtain a Construction Certificate approval from CERTGROUP.
• Nominate CERTGROUP as your "Principal Certifying Authority" (PCA).

You cannot start any building work without a Construction Certificate (CC) and a "Principal Certifying Authority" (PCA) being nominated and appointed.

See our page "service" providing 5 easy steps to obtain a Construction Certificate and nominate a Principal Certifying Authority (PCA).

A: A Construction Certificate is an approval that:

• Ensures the detailed construction plans and specifications comply with the requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and any relevant Australian Standard.
• Certifies that the detailed construction plans and specifications are not inconsistent with the Development Consent.
• Certifies that the relevant development consent conditions have been complied with.
• Certifies that all required contributions and fees have been paid.

A: The role of the PCA is as follows:

• Administer the conditions of consent and progress of the development from commencement to completion and conduct mandatory critical stage inspection of construction.
• Promptly advise the applicant in writing, after any relevant inspection, of any outstanding work.
• Issue the applicant an Occupation Certificate for any building or change of building use when the relevant project is complete.
• Receive and investigate any complaints from the public concerning the development.

Did you know that you cannot occupy your completed building works without obtaining the required critical staged inspection reports and the Occupation Certificate from the "Principal Certifying Authority" (PCA). Under New South Wales legislation fines do apply if this is not complied with.

If you nominate CERTGROUP as the Principal Certifying Authority (PCA), we must notify the relevant Local Council that CERTGROUP has been appointed, at least 2 days prior to your building work commencing.

A: Following the issue of a Construction Certificate a Notice of Commencement is required to be provided to Council a minimum of two days prior to the commencement of any building works.

This formal notice to your relevant local Council provides details of the appointed PCA, i.e. CERTGROUP, your proposed building works date of commencement and the name and details of the nominated builder or owner builder.

A: The CERTGROUP if nominated, as the Principal Certifying Authority (PCA) is required to advise the applicant in writing as to the critical stage and other inspections required for your development.

The CERTGROUP will require you to sign our "Principal Certifying Authority Service Agreement (Terms and conditions)" This agreement details the responsibilities of the applicant and the required inspection of the work during construction and prior to issue of the occupation certificate.

Mandatory critical stage inspections are required for buildings where the Notice of Commencement/Appointment of PCA has been made on or after 1 July 2004. The CERTGROUP will advise you of the Critical Stage inspections that are required when you complete our PCA Service Agreement containing terms and conditions.

A: An Occupation Certificate must be issued by the PCA (CERTGROUP) on completion of the building works relating to the development, certifying that all works have been completed in accordance with all relevant development consent conditions, consented plans and the Building Code of Australia (BCA).

It is illegal to occupy or use a building or structure without an Occupation Certificate.

An Interim Occupation Certificate may be issued by the PCA for a part of the development prior to the completion of all works. This may be utilised when the development is being carried out in stages.

A: A Complying Development Certificate is a single-staged, fast-track approval process that applies to specified smaller scale developments, such as certain alterations and additions to dwellings, garages, carports, pergolas and shade structures, internal shop or office fit-out works, re-cladding or re-furbishing certain buildings, swimming pools, decks, sheds, fences and retaining walls. The proposal must fall within a category of Complying Development and comply with the specified criteria contained in your relevant Local Council's Exempt and Complying LEP or DCP to be eligible for a Complying Development Certificate.

A Complying Development Certificate can only be issued by CERTGROUP if:

• The proposed development fully complies with the specific requirements and criteria for Complying Development in Council's LEP and DCP for Exempt and Complying developments.
• The proposal complies with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979.

If the criteria specified in the Exempt and Complying Development of a LEP or DCP cannot be satisfied, then a Development Application must be submitted to Council, and a Construction Certificate must also be obtained, before commencing any work.