Occupation Certificates

After construction, a building cannot be used or occupied until an Occupation Certificate has been issued.

What is an Occupation Certificate?

An Occupation Certificate (OC) is the formal approval that allows a building to be legally occupied or used once construction is complete. It confirms that the work complies with the development consent, the Building Code of Australia, and all required safety and compliance standards. In New South Wales, this is the final step in the construction and approval process, issued by either the local council or an accredited certifier.

Applying for an Occupation Certificate

To receive an Occupation Certificate, the owner (or the person benefiting from the development consent) must first download and complete the Occupation Certificate Application Form and identify which compliance certificates are required (listed below).

Once these steps are completed, you can lodge your Application for a Final Occupation Certificate through the Planning Portal. Make sure to upload the completed Occupation Certificate Application Form along with any additional required documents.

Additional required documents for Occupation Certificates

Depending on your building type, the following documents must also be uploaded with your application to the Planning Portal.

Required documents for Class 1 & 10 Buildings (Residential), where applicable to your application:

Basix Certificate Compliance Form
Bushfire Compliance Certificate
Fire Separating Wall Compliance Certificate
Frame & Truss Detail/Certification
Glazing Certificate (where required)
Smoke Alarm Compliance Certificate (Issued by Electrician)
Survey Report (where required)
Termite Protection Certificate (Copy to Council, sticker installed in power meter box)
Waterproofing Compliance Certificate

Required documents for Class 2-9 Buildings (Industrial/Commercial), where applicable to your application:

Energy Efficiency (Section J) Compliance Certificate/Letter
Final Fire Safety Certificate or Interim Fire Safety Certificate (where relevant) to reflect the requirements of the Fire Safety Schedule
Structural engineers’ certification (where required)
Fire Separating Wall Compliance Certificate
Slip Resistance Compliance Certificate
Installation Certificate - Fire Resisting Construction
Installation Certificate - General
Installation Certificate - Slip Resistance

NSW Planning Portal Information regarding Occupation Certificates

Planning Portal fees

In accordance with the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021, applicants are required to pay a digital application processing fee for Occupation Certificates.

For more information please see the NSW Planning Portal service fees page.