Nominating a Principal Certifying Authority (PCA)
A PCA must be nominated prior to commencement of works if your building works are subject to a Construction Certificate or a Complying Development Certificate.
The role of a PCA is to undertake critical stage inspections of the building work in accordance with Section 162A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000.
Council can fulfill the role of a PCA. To appoint Council as the Principal Certifying Authority for your building work, please complete the form below and return it to any of our Customer Service offices. For more information please download the following documents:
Critical Stage Inspections
Your development may require inspections during the construction phase which will take place at the critical stages of the development. This is to ensure that the construction works have been undertaken in accordance with the Building Code of Australia and relevant standards.
Where are my required Critical Stage Inspections listed
Depending on the type of approval granted for your development, your critical stage inspections will be listed within your:
- Principal Certifying Authority Agreement
- Development Consent
- Complying Development Schedule of Conditions
Types of Critical Stage Inspections
Your list of inspections may include any or all of the following:
- after excavation for, and prior to the placement of, any footings
- prior to pouring of any in-situ reinforced concrete building element
- prior to covering of any framework for any floor, wall, roof or other building element
- prior to covering waterproofing in any wet areas
- prior to covering any stormwater drainage connections
- retaining walls with drainage in position prior to backfilling
- after building work has been completed and prior to any occupation certificate being issued in relation to the building
- after construction of the swimming pool is completed and the barrier (where required) has been erected and before the pool is filled with water
- after building work has been completed and prior to any occupation certificate being issued in relation to the structure/building
Additional Inspections required during construction
A Principal Certifying Authority may also specify within your PCA agreement, a requirement for additional inspection types depending on the extent and type of works being undertaken. Again, this is to ensure that the work is being carried out to an acceptable standard to ensure the integrity of the development.
Additional inspections/re-inspections may also be required as a result of non-compliant works or staged inspections where necessary.
Each additional inspection undertaken throughout the construction phase will incur the appropriate inspection fee as outlined within Council’s Schedule of Fees and Charges.
Booking Critical Stage Inspections
If you would like to arrange an inspection please call Council’s Development and Approvals Division on (02) 6767 5552 or (02) 6767 5507.
To book your inspection, you will need to provide the following information to the officer taking your call:
- type of inspection (refer to Consent or PCA Agreement for the inspections required)
- address of where the inspection will take place
- contact name and telephone number of the relevant person
- application reference number:
- construction certificate number
- development application number
- complying development certificate number