PlotDetect

Quick Start Guide

NSW Planning System (3 Layers)

SEPP (State Environmental Planning Policy)
State-wide rules: Exempt & Complying, BASIX, Heritage, Apartment Design Guide, Low & Mid-Rise Housing
LEP (Local Environmental Plan)
Council zones and limits: Height, FSR, Land Use Permissibility, Environmental Constraints (Flood, Bushfire, ANEF, Mine Subsidence, Landslide, Contaminated Land, Water Catchment, Biodiversity, Coastal, Acid Sulfate)
DCP (Development Control Plan)
Detailed local design rules: Setbacks, Landscaping, Character, Parking

⚠️ All three layers apply to every development — verify each before issuing approvals

Approval Pathways

Pattern Book
10 days
E&C CDC
20 days
Heritage
30–90 days
Standard DA
30–90 days

Pattern Book CDC (10-Day Fast Track)

FASTEST

New single-dwelling homes only. NSW Government Pattern Book designs get 10-day CDC approval. PlotDetect checks eligibility triggers and numeric standards automatically.

1
SEPP Tab → Pattern Book CDC Card
Check eligibility. Green = eligible. Red = blocked (shows which triggers failed).
2
Review Numeric Standards
Site coverage, setbacks, height limits, parking — all must comply.
3
Planning Controls Tab → Confirm Zone Permissibility
Dwelling house must be permitted in zone (R2, R3, R4). Check height and FSR limits apply.
4
DCP Tab → Verify No HCA/Heritage Restrictions
Pattern Book excluded on heritage properties.

Common blockers: Heritage conservation area, narrow lot (<15m), steep slope (>20%), acid sulfate soil, flood zone, bushfire zone.

Exempt & Complying Development (CDC)

20 DAYS

Small-scale additions. Decks, garages, pools, fences, carports. Certifier approval only — no council DA. Must meet all SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 standards.

1
SEPP Tab → Exempt & Complying Card
Select work type (Deck / Garage / Pool / Fence / Carport). PlotDetect shows applicable SEPP standards with clause references.
2
CDC Eligibility Screener
Enter proposed height and floor area. Screener checks heritage status, zone, lot area, and numeric limits against SEPP provisions. Items marked unknown must be verified directly from the PDF.
3
Click PDF Icons to Verify Wording
Each provision has a page icon linking to the exact SEPP page image from the official document. Use this for certifier documentation.
4
Planning Controls Tab → Confirm Use Permitted & Check Overlays
Base land use must be allowed in zone. Check Local Provisions / Planning Overlays for any SEPP or instrument constraints (e.g. Aerotropolis buffer, Acid Sulfate).

Compliance requirement: Verify all provisions against the current SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 before issuing a CDC. PlotDetect is a preliminary screener only.

Heritage Property Assessment

30–90 DAYS

Properties in Heritage Conservation Areas or listed as heritage items. Additional design controls apply. Heritage statements usually required for DA.

1
Property Summary Panel → Check Heritage Status
Shows if property is in an HCA or is a heritage item. Note the HCA name.
2
Planning Controls Tab → Heritage & LEP Clause 5.10
HCA conservation objectives and significance statement. Heritage items require consent under Clause 5.10 of the LEP for any works. CDC excluded for heritage items.
3
SEPP Tab → Check State Heritage Register
If state-listed, additional SEPP (Biodiversity & Conservation 2021) provisions apply.
4
DCP Tab → Heritage Provisions
Controls for demolition, additions, materials, roofs, fencing, signage.

Standard Development Application

30–90 DAYS

Most common pathway. New buildings, major alterations, additions over E&C limits, commercial, multi-dwelling. Council assessment required.

1
Planning Controls Tab → Primary Development Standards
Check: (1) Use permitted in zone? (2) Height limit? (3) FSR limit? These are mandatory LEP controls.
2
Planning Controls Tab → Environmental Constraints
Flood, bushfire, acid sulfate, ANEF, mine subsidence, landslide, biodiversity, coastal — each triggers specific assessment requirements.
3
SEPP Tab → State Policy Overlays
BASIX (all dwellings), Apartment Design Guide (3+ units), Heritage, Low & Mid-Rise Housing reforms, Transport-Oriented Development (near stations).
4
DCP Tab → Council Design Controls
Setbacks, landscaping, character, parking, solar access, privacy. Use topic filters and DA Mode for structured assessment.

DA Mode: Annotation & SEE Draft

For Standard DAs. Activate DA Mode in the DCP tab to annotate provisions and export a pre-populated Statement of Environmental Effects draft.

Enable DA Mode → set development type → run triage → annotate provisions → export SEE PDF. Each N/A exclusion traces to a confirmed intake answer. See the DCP tab for the full workflow.

Quick Navigation Tips

•Property Summary (left panel): Zone, height limit, FSR, heritage status at a glance
•PDF Icons: Click to view the exact page from the original SEPP or LEP document
•Planning Overlays (LEP tab): Flags SEPP spatial overlays and LEP local provisions that apply to the property — check these even for CDC work
•CDC Eligibility Screener: Preliminary only — always verify against current legislation before issuing a certificate
•Topic / Document toggle (DCP tab): Topic view = keyword search; Document view = navigate by DCP chapter matching the printed document
•Chapter dismiss (DA Mode): Hover a chapter in the sidebar → × button dismisses all provisions with a stated reason, recorded in SEE Schedule B

PlotDetect · Quick Start Guide · March 2026

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