Guides from the certifier's desk.

What the forms mean, which approval path applies and what we look for on site, for Queensland and New South Wales.

QLD What a private certifier does in Queensland (and when you do not need council) What a private certifier does in Queensland, how building approval differs from a council DA, and when you can skip council altogether. QLD Form 21 or Form 11: which final certificate does your project need? Form 21 or Form 11? A plain-English guide to which final certificate your Queensland project needs and how each one is issued. QLD Building a granny flat in Brisbane: rules, size limits and approvals Granny flat rules for Brisbane homeowners: size limits, accepted development criteria, renting rules and the building approval process. QLD Pool approvals in Queensland: what needs certifying, and when What needs certifying when you build a pool in Queensland, from building approval and barrier compliance to the Pool Safety Certificate. QLD Mandatory stage inspections in Queensland: what the certifier checks What mandatory stage inspections a Queensland certifier carries out, when they happen, and what to prepare for each one. QLD Form 15 and Form 16 explained: who signs what on a Queensland build Form 15 and Form 16 explained: what each certificate covers, who signs them, and why your Queensland certifier needs both. NSW CDC or DA: which approval path is faster for your Sydney project? Complying Development Certificate or Development Application: what decides which approval path suits your Sydney renovation, granny flat or new build. NSW What a Construction Certificate is, and when you need one What a Construction Certificate is, when you need one instead of a CDC, and how the process works with a Sydney registered certifier. NSW Occupation Certificates in NSW: the checklist before you move in What has to be finished and documented before your Sydney certifier can issue an Occupation Certificate. A practical pre-move-in checklist. NSW Sydney granny flat rules: floor area, lot size and the approval path Sydney granny flat rules explained: floor area and lot size limits under the Housing SEPP, and the complying development approval path. NSW Principal Certifier: what they do and how to choose one What a Principal Certifier does on a NSW build, when to appoint one, and how to choose the right registered certifier for your project. National Building certifier, building surveyor or building inspector: what is the difference? Building certifier, building surveyor and building inspector explained, and how the terms and roles differ between Queensland and New South Wales. QLD Building on a Gold Coast Canal or Waterfront Lot: What the Certifier Looks For What a certifier checks when you build on a Gold Coast canal or waterfront lot, from flood overlays to seawalls. Read our guide, then get a quote. QLD Gold Coast Granny Flats: City Plan Rules and the Approval Path What the Gold Coast City Plan says about granny flats, plus how coastal overlays can change the approval path. Read our guide, then get a quote. QLD Building in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland: Bushfire, Slope and What It Means for Approval What bushfire and slope overlays mean for building approval in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, and how the process differs from a standard suburban lot. QLD Sunshine Coast and Noosa Granny Flats: Two Planning Schemes, One Approval Path How granny flat and secondary dwelling rules differ between the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme and the Noosa Plan, and what the approval path looks like. National Getting a Shipping Container Home Approved in Australia: What the Certifier Needs to See What a certifier checks before approving a shipping container home in Queensland or New South Wales, from structural certification to planning rules.
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Vast Consulting Group

Unrestricted building surveyors and certifiers. Residential, commercial and industrial. Brisbane and Sydney.

Brisbane Unit 4, 211 Logan Road
Woolloongabba QLD 4102 (07) 3112 7689 Also serving the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast
Sydney · Head office Level 1, 1401 Botany Road
Botany NSW 2019 (02) 9821 2062
Follow info@vastconsulting.com.au
© 2026 Vast Consulting Group Pty Ltd Licensed under the QBCC Act · Registered certifiers, Building Commission NSW