Section 4.55 modifications in 2026: 14-day approvals and reviews
Section 4.55 modifications in NSW after the 2026 reforms: the new no impact 4.55(1) pathway, 14-day deemed approval, 6-month reviews and DCA referrals.
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Service
DA or CDC Pathway and Pre-lodgement Advice
Which approval route is fastest and safest for your site, with a written planning advice you can give to your designer and builder.
Complying development (CDC) through a private certifier can be approved in weeks; a development application with council can take months. But CDC only works when the site and design meet every standard in the relevant code, and a failed CDC attempt costs time and design fees.
URBA provides short written planning advices that set out the pathway options for your site, the standards that decide eligibility, the documents required and the likely timeframe. For DAs we prepare for and attend pre-lodgement meetings with council.
Who this is for
- Owners and builders deciding between CDC and DA
- Designers wanting the controls confirmed before concept
- Buyers who need a fast written answer
What the report or service includes
- Zoning, permissibility and exclusions from complying development
- Housing Code, Low Rise Housing Diversity Code or Greenfield Housing Code eligibility
- Key DA controls where CDC is not available
- Required reports and certificates for each pathway
- Pre-lodgement meeting request, briefing note and attendance
How it works
Step
Brief
Address and what you want to build.
Step
Assessment
Mapping, exclusions, code standards, LEP and DCP.
Step
Written advice
Usually within two to three business days.
Step
Next step
CDC documentation support or DA preparation.
Frequently asked questions
Why was my CDC application refused?
Complying development has no merit assessment. If a single standard is not met, such as a setback, a floor area or an excluded land mapping, the certifier cannot issue the certificate. A DA is then the route.
Is a pre-lodgement meeting worth it?
For dual occupancies, townhouses and anything with a variation, usually yes. Council feedback before lodgement is far cheaper than a request for information or a refusal after it.
Where we provide this service
Across Sydney, Western Sydney, the Central Coast, the Hunter, the Illawarra and regional NSW. See the areas we service for council-specific notes, including Blacktown, Penrith, The Hills, Liverpool, Camden and the Central Coast.
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Reading
Guides related to da or cdc pathway advice
How long does a DA take in NSW? 2026-27 timeframes and DCA referrals
How long a DA takes in NSW in 2026-27: 40 and 60 day deemed refusal clocks, DCA referrals since 1 July 2026, and realistic…
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Local planning panels NSW 2026: referrals, regional DAs and reviews
How NSW local planning panels work after the 2026 reforms: referral triggers, regionally significant DAs in Sydney and panel reviews of staff decisions.
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Next step
Get a fixed fee for da or cdc pathway advice
Send the address and your plans or concept. A URBA planner will confirm the pathway and send a fixed-fee proposal, usually within one business day.