Standard and Model Conditions of Consent

Overview

What’s this about?

The NSW Government has released an Explanation of Intended Effects (EIE). This outlines new standard and model conditions of consent. 

We are proposing these to replace inconsistent, bespoke requirements. We intend for these changes to simplify the process of assessing and approving development.

This would make things easier for councils, industry and communities.

Consistency across local government areas means councils, builders and developers spend less time on every application:

• rewriting
• reviewing
• negotiating conditions.

This means they can make decisions faster and with fewer delays.

For certain developments, we propose further changes. These changes would mean consent authorities must consult with applicants on draft conditions. They would need to do this before they issue consent.

This proactive step will help identify and avoid minor errors. These errors often lead to expensive delays and unnecessary changes.

The proposed reforms aim to:

• create consistent approaches for NSW councils and other consent authorities
• reduce the time needed for each application, including:
  • preparing it
  • reviewing it
  • finalising the conditions for it
• support faster decision-making with fewer delays in the assessment process
• introduce conditions that scale depending on the potential impact of the development.

This would:

• help make sure there are not different requirements for the same development
• result in simpler, outcome-based requirements for low-rise developments
• create more detailed, management plan-based conditions for mid- and high-rise projects.

This helps ensure the effort required matches the complexity and risk of the development.

Have your say

Have your say by 5pm Thursday 30 July 2026. 

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