FAQs

To obtain a quote please contact Hornsby Certifiers via email hornsbycertifiers@hornsby.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) 9847 6787. General fees are listed in Council’s Fees & Charges.

• Construction Certificates
• Complying Development Certificates
• bush fire Attack Level (BAL) Certificates
• Building Information Certificates (Authorised/ Unauthorised Work)
• Swimming Pool Compliance Certificates
• Installation of Domestic Solid Fuel Heating Appliance Approvals

We also act in the role of Principal Certifier by:

The NCC (Building Code of Australia) is the national code that provides the minimum necessary requirements for safety, health, amenity and sustainability in the design and construction of new buildings (and new building work in existing buildings) throughout Australia.

The property owner has the right to choose their own Certifier to ensure building work is being carried out in accordance with the conditions of development consent, the NCC (Building Code of Australia) and Australian Standards. Hornsby Certifiers work for the owner/applicant and not just the builder. Therefore, we can provide advice to you to ensure that your project meets legislative building requirements.

The Environmental Planning Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) requires the appointment of a Principal Certifier (PC) before commencement of work on a development site. The PC is responsible for ensuring that all works are carried out in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.

The PC is required to carry out critical stage inspections before, during and at the completion of a building project to ensure that it will meet the NCC (Building Code of Australia),conditions of development consent/complying development approvaland other legislative requirements to allow for the issue of an Occupation Certificate. When lodging your Construction Certificate or Complying Development Certificate with Hornsby Certifiers you will also need to nominate your appointed Principal Certifier.

A construction certificate is required to be obtained prior to the commencement of any building work. Building work is defined in the EP&A Act as “any physical activity involved in the erection of a building”.

Where you are unsure if you need a Construction Certificate, please contact Hornsby Certifiers via email hornsbycertifiers@hornsby.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) 9847 6787 to discuss further.

Building work can begin two days after a Construction Certificate or Complying Development Certificate has been approved and issued, and the completed Notice of Commencement of Building Work has been sent to Hornsby Certifiers.

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 requires critical stage inspections to be undertaken by the appointed Principal Certifier (PC) before, during and at the completion of a building project to ensure that the development is constructed in accordance with the approval and that it will meet the NCC (Building Code of Australia) and other legislative requirements relating to health and safety. There are several mandatory critical stage inspections required for all types of Class 1 and 10 developments which may include:

• after excavation for, and prior to the placement of, any footings
• prior to pouring any in-situ reinforced concrete building element
• prior to the covering of any framework for any floor, wall, roof or other building element (Note: this inspection is required after installation of wall and roof cladding, after installation of electrical and plumbing fit-out, after the installation of window and door frames but prior to the installation of any insulation or internal linings)
• prior to covering waterproofing in any wet areas
• prior to pouring any in-situ reinforced concrete for the swimming pool
• in the case of a swimming pool, as soon as practicable after the barrier (pool fence) has been erected
• prior to covering any stormwater drainage connections
• after the building work has been completed and prior to any occupation certificate being issued in relation to the building.

The critical stage inspections must be carried out by the PC appointed for the building work and must be carried out by the appointed PC irrespective of whether the building work is also inspected by a structural engineer. Please Note: It is the responsibility of the builder/applicant/owner to organise the required inspections with their appointed Principal Certifier and any missed inspections may result in the inability to issue an Occupation Certificate for your building project.

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 requires an Occupation Certificate to be issued to an owner or occupier prior to legally occupying or using a new building or new part of an existing building. An Occupation Certificate can only be issued by the Principal Certifier (PC) appointed for the building work. The occupation or use of a new building a or new part of an existing building prior to the issue of an Occupation Certificate may attract penalties including the possible issue of a Penalty Infringement Notice.

An Owner-Builder Permit is required for any residential building work, including supervision and co-ordination where the reasonable market cost (including labour and materials) exceeds $10,000 and requires development consent under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, or a complying development approval.

Owner-Builder Permits are issued by the NSW Department of Fair Trading and require an applicant to complete an approved Owner-Builder course or have the equivalent education and experience.

The Owner-Builder Permit must be provided to the Principal Certifier (PC) prior to building work commencing. The PC is not able to carry out any inspections until the permit has been provided. Further information can be found on the NSW Fair Trading website.

Home Building Compensation Cover is required for any residential building work where the work requires a licence and the value of the work is over $20,000. This insurance must be provided by the builder or tradesperson before taking any money (including a deposit) from a home owner under a residential contract and prior to commencing any work under that contract.

The Home Building Compensation Cover Certificate must be provided to the Principal Certifier (PC) prior to building work commencing. The PC cannot carry out any inspections until the certificate has been provided. Further information can be found on the NSW Fair Trading website.