The single biggest factor that determines how quickly and cheaply you can put a granny flat on your NSW block is approval pathway. In NSW you have two main routes: the SEPP complying development pathway, which is fast and private-certifier driven, or a full development application (DA) through your local council, which is slower and more involved. Here is how to know which applies to you, and how the process actually runs in 2026.
The State Environmental Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) is the legislation that makes granny flats relatively easy to approve in NSW. If your block and your design meet the SEPP rules, a private certifier can approve the build under a Complying Development Certificate (CDC), bypassing your local council's full DA process.
The headline rules for SEPP complying development on a granny flat:
If your block ticks all those boxes, you can usually go CDC and have an approval inside 3 weeks.
If your block does not qualify for CDC (smaller lot, heritage overlay, environmental constraints, flood-prone area, bushfire zone above BAL-29, or a council with local rules tighter than SEPP), you go the DA route. Your council assesses the application, may consult neighbours, and may impose conditions.
DA timeframes vary by council. Inner-Sydney councils typically take 8 to 16 weeks. Regional councils can be faster. We have done DA approvals across every metropolitan and regional NSW council and we know who is fast, who is slow, and what each one cares about.
We handle the heavy lifting on approval. The typical sequence for a Hi-Tech granny flat is:
See the full Hi-Tech process step by step.
CDC fees are generally lower than DA fees. A typical CDC approval through a private certifier costs a few thousand dollars. A DA can run higher depending on council fees, S7.11 contributions, and any specialist reports the council requires (flora and fauna, bushfire, engineering, contamination).
If any of these apply, you can still build a granny flat. You just go DA instead of CDC.
Our granny flat range is designed within SEPP rules, so every plan in our standard range qualifies for CDC where the block does. If your block needs a DA, we work with you on a custom design that fits the council's specific requirements.
Under CDC, no, since the build complies with state-set rules. Under DA, your council may notify and invite submissions but neighbours cannot veto an application.
No. A secondary dwelling under SEPP must remain on the same lot as the main house and cannot be subdivided off.
Yes, in most cases. Some heritage areas have design consistency requirements, but most NSW lots have flexibility.
You will likely need a survey for the certifier or council. We can arrange this through our network.
The fastest way to know which approval pathway applies to your specific NSW block is a quick feasibility check. Send us your block address and we will tell you whether SEPP CDC is available, what the timeline looks like, and which Hi-Tech granny flat designs fit.
Request a feasibility check here, or read our full FAQ page for more answers.
