What is a Subdivision Certificate?
A Subdivision Certificate is a certificate issued under the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979, certifying that a subdivision plan (i.e. the survey plans) is compliant with the requirements of the Development Consent.
Conditions of consent may require you to:
- Obtain a Subdivisions Works Certificate for civil works.
- Pay developer contributions and any other relevant contributions stipulated in the Development Consent.
- Satisfy requirements of all relevant conditions of consent.
- Provide confirmation of compliance from Public Utilities.
- Create easements, building envelopes and/or restrictions over the lots.
A subdivision cannot be registered with the NSW Land Registry Services unless the Subdivision Certificate has been issued by Council.
Applying for a Subdivision Certificate
To apply for a Subdivision Certificate, you will need to follow the below sequence of steps:
Step 1 - Lodgement
When to apply
You may lodge an application for a Subdivision Certificate either at the same time as, or at any time after, submitting the Development Application for the subdivision.
However, the Subdivision Certificate cannot be determined until the Development Application has been approved and all conditions of the development consent have been met.
As survey plans may need to be amended to comply with the approved consent conditions, it is recommended that the Subdivision Certificate application be lodged after the Development Application has been approved.
Submitting your application
All Subdivision Certificates are to be submitted via the NSW Government's online Planning Portal.
Before lodgement, it is strongly recommended that you read the Subdivision Certificate Preparation and Lodgement Guide (PDF, 201.9 KB).
So we can issue your Subdivision Certificate as quickly as possible, your application should be accompanied by:
- Statement of Compliance
- Filled and signed Subdivision Certificate Checklist
- Deposited Plan Administration Sheet
- Development consent or Complying Development Certificate, including approved plans
- Subdivision Works Certificate
- Compliance from the relevant Public Utilities
- Section 88B Instrument (where applicable)
- Other Legal Documents (where applicable)
- Into maintenance inspection sign off
- Evidence of contribution payments (receipt)
A fee quote can be obtained from Council prior to lodgement and applicable fees must accompany your application.
A Planning Portal Quick Reference Guide is also available to help.
Step 2 - Assessment
Once the application is submitted through the Portal, an initial review will be carried out to check the information provided is sufficient for Council to accept.
Where it is identified that further information is required before the application can be accepted, an officer will contact the applicant to request the further information or clarification. Once adequate information is provided, the application can be accepted.
When the application has been reviewed and considered ready for lodgement, and associated fees have been paid, Council can commence assessment.
Officers will contact the applicant if further clarification is needed.
Step 3 - Determination and Issue
If approved, the subdivision plans will be prepared for signature and will then be signed by an authorised Council officer. The signed survey plans will then be returned through the Portal.
Step 4 - Lodgement with NSW Land Registry service
Once you have collected the certified documents from Council, it is your responsibility to arrange the lodgement of the documents with NSW Land Registry Services (LRS) to be registered. LRS will notify you of the registration of the subdivision. LRS will also notify Council of the registration of the subdivision so that our records can be updated.