NSW Housing Code Compliance Check
Find out whether your single-dwelling plans qualify for the 20-day CDC pathway, or whether you're committed to a DA. Our automated check assesses every standard in the Codes SEPP Housing Code — setbacks, FSR, height, articulation, privacy, parking, BASIX and more — and tells you exactly where you stand.
Built for owner-builders, designers and certifiers who want the answer up front, before plans are finalised.
From $49 per assessment. Bulk packs available for designers and builders.
What is the NSW Housing Code?
The Housing Code is Part 3 of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 — the “Codes SEPP”. It sets the state-wide standards that a single-dwelling proposal must meet to qualify for a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) instead of a full Development Application (DA).
Where every standard is met, a private certifier (or council) can issue the CDC in 20 statutory days — vastly faster than the average DA, which currently sits at 115 days under the Statement of Expectations Order 2024 and is set to drop to 85 days by July 2027.
20-day fast-track
Tick every Housing Code standard. Private certifier or council issues approval. No merit assessment, no neighbour objections.
Merit assessment
One Housing Code standard not met ⇒ CDC unavailable. Council weighs the proposal under s 4.15 of the EP&A Act. Notification, submissions, decision in months.
The catch: the Housing Code is unforgiving. A 100mm setback breach, a 0.05 FSR exceedance, a heritage listing on the next block — any of these can push the proposal out of CDC and into a DA. That's where this tool earns its keep: it tells you which standards bite before you commit to plans.
What our Housing Code Check assesses
30 standards across 9 categories. Every one is examined against your plans.
Lot eligibility & site exclusions
4 standards
- H1Lot zone permissibility
- H2Minimum lot size and frontage
- H3Heritage / conservation area exclusion
- H4Environmentally sensitive land exclusion
Building envelope & massing
4 standards
- H5Maximum building height
- H6Number of storeys
- H7Maximum gross floor area (lot-size sliding scale)
- H8Setbacks and boundary walls (general)
Setbacks
4 standards
- H9Front (primary road) setback — streetscape rule
- H10Side setbacks
- H11Rear setback
- H12Battle-axe / hatchet lot setbacks
Built-form & character
3 standards
- H13Articulation zone (building design)
- H14Materials and finishes
- H15Roof form and eaves
Amenity (privacy, solar, drainage)
4 standards
- H16Privacy screens for windows
- H17Solar access to neighbouring properties
- H18Stormwater and drainage
- H19Earthworks (cut and fill)
Landscaping & open space
2 standards
- H20Minimum landscaped area
- H21Principal private open space (PPOS)
Hazards (bushfire, flood, contamination)
4 standards
- H22Bushfire-prone land
- H23Flood-affected land
- H24Acid sulfate soils
- H25Contaminated land
Parking & access
2 standards
- H26Parking spaces
- H27Driveway and access
Energy & sustainability
3 standards
- H28BASIX certificate
- H29NatHERS thermal performance
- H30Livable design (NCC Class 1)
Standards as listed reflect the Codes SEPP. Always confirm against the current SEPP at legislation.nsw.gov.au before relying on a result.
How it works
Confirm your zone and lot
Check your property on the NSW Planning Portal Spatial Viewer to confirm the zone (R1, R2, R3, R5 or equivalent) and minimum lot size. The Housing Code applies only to lots that meet these baseline tests.
Upload your plans
Site plan, floor plans and elevations to scale. Our system measures setbacks, calculates FSR, checks articulation and identifies non-compliances.
Receive your assessment
Pass / fail per standard, with the Codes SEPP clause reference, the measured value and the required value. Where a standard fails, you'll see what would need to change to bring it inside the Code.
Pricing
One-off or bulk packs. Same numerical engine, same depth of assessment.
1 Assessment
Best for owner-builders and one-off projects.
5 Assessments
Bulk pricing for designers, builders and certifiers.
10 Assessments
Bulk pricing for designers, builders and certifiers.
20 Assessments
Bulk pricing for designers, builders and certifiers.
Prices in AUD, GST inclusive.
Why use the Housing Code Check
Save time, reduce risk, take the right pathway with confidence
CDC eligibility, up front
The single most useful answer in NSW residential planning: does my proposal qualify for the 20-day CDC pathway, or am I committed to a 2-6 month DA?
Every Codes SEPP standard checked
Lot size and frontage, building envelope, FSR, side and rear setbacks, articulation, privacy, solar access, landscaping, parking, BASIX — assessed clause-by-clause against the Housing Code.
Catch deal-breakers before lodgement
Heritage, BAL-FZ bushfire, flood-affected, foreshore — these exclude CDC entirely. Identify them before you commit to plans.
Use the result with any certifier
A passing assessment lets you walk into your private certifier with confidence. A failing one tells you what to fix or whether to pivot to a DA.
Plain-English explanations
Every standard explained without legalese. The full SEPP text is on legislation.nsw.gov.au if you want to drill in.
Pre-application clarity
Use it before engaging a certifier, builder or architect — saves rework and gives you a defensible position when negotiating designs.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about the NSW Housing Code and CDC pathway
What is the NSW Housing Code?
What's the difference between a CDC and a DA?
What kind of properties does the Housing Code apply to?
Will my plans definitely qualify for CDC if every standard passes?
How is this different from the Low Rise Housing Diversity Code (LRHDC)?
What information do I need?
What happens after the assessment?
Ready to find out if your plans qualify for CDC?
Get a clear, clause-by-clause assessment against the NSW Housing Code. Identify deal-breakers before you commit.