The questions people ask before they build.
Plain English, no jargon, written by a registered NSW Design Practitioner. New answers are added as the questions come in.
DA or CDC? How to tell which approval your Sydney project needs
The plain-English difference between a development application and complying development, and how to tell which one applies to your property.
Unauthorised worksUnapproved work: what a Building Information Certificate actually does
If your house has work that was never approved, a Building Information Certificate is usually the way to fix it. Here is what it does, what it does not do, and what council will want to see.
Group homes & SDAGroup homes and supported accommodation: what changed in 2025
The NSW housing rules for group homes changed in September 2025. For operators and investors, converting a house is now materially easier — and the design still has to be declared by a registered practitioner.
DuplexesDuplex or dual occupancy on your block: the five things that decide it
Whether your Sydney block can take a duplex comes down to five checks. Here they are, in the order we run them.