How to Object to a Development Application (DA) in NSW
Found out about a nearby development too late? In New South Wales, the window to have your say is often as short as 14 days. This guide walks you through how to lodge a professional, high-impact submission to your local council.
1. Understand the Timeline
Once a DA is lodged, the council will notify neighbours (usually within a 20m–50m radius).
The Notification Period
Usually 14 to 28 days.
The Risk
If you miss this window, the Council is not legally required to consider your late submission.
This is why automated tracking via So It Is is vital—it gives you back those lost days of mail delivery time.
2. Identify "Valid Grounds" for Objection
Council planners cannot reject a DA just because you "don't like it." Your objection must be based on planning matters (Section 4.15 of the EP&A Act 1979).
Focus your objection on these key impacts:
- Overshadowing: Use the shadow diagrams in the DA plans to show how the new build blocks your winter sun.
- Privacy: Does a new balcony or window look directly into your living room or private open space (backyard)?
- Visual Bulk & Scale: Is the building too big for the street? Does it exceed the Floor Space Ratio (FSR) or Height of Buildings limits in the Local Environmental Plan (LEP)?
- Acoustic Impact: Will new air-conditioning units, pool pumps, or driveway traffic create unreasonable noise?
- Landscaping & Trees: Does the proposal involve removing significant trees or damaging the local streetscape?
Pro Tip: Avoid objecting based on "Loss of Property Value" or "Loss of Construction Views." In NSW, these are generally not considered valid planning grounds and will likely be ignored by the assessment officer.
3. How to Structure Your Submission
You don't need a lawyer to write an objection, but you do need to be professional.
- Reference the essentials: Always include the DA Number and the site address in the subject line.
- State your interest: "I am the owner of [Your Address], located [Directly North/Adjacent] to the proposed site."
- Use dot points: Keep it succinct. Planners read hundreds of these; make yours easy to digest.
- Be constructive: Instead of just saying "No," suggest a solution. “I request that the second-story window on the southern elevation be fitted with frosted glass to protect our privacy.”
Find your local council page here.
4. Lodging the Objection
Most NSW councils (like City of Sydney, Northern Beaches, or Blacktown) now require submissions to be made through the NSW Planning Portal or via a specific council email address.
Checklist before you hit send
- [ ] Included your name and address?
- [ ] Attached photos of your current view or sunlight?
- [ ] Disclosed any political donations (a legal requirement in NSW)?
What about Complying Development (CDC)?
Complying Development is a fast-track approval done by private certifiers.
- The bad news: There is no formal objection process for a CDC.
- The good news: You still have a right to be notified. If you get a CDC alert from So It Is, you can quickly check if the plans actually meet the Code. If they don't, you can contact the certifier or council immediately to report a breach.