About inspections
Inspections during construction are important - they ensure compliance with development consent conditions and Construction and Complying Development Certificates, and also ensure building work meets proper standards of health, safety and amenity.
Compliance and safety
Inspections during construction are important - they ensure compliance with development consent conditions and Complying Development Certificates, and also ensure building work meets proper standards of health, safety and amenity.
Inspections
Your Principal Certifying Authority will conduct all your inspections, including your mandatory critical inspections, which are required for all classes of buildings, including houses, garages, carports and pergolas. Your Principal Certifying Authority will give you a list of these inspections and any others that will be needed. These inspections are carried out at various stages during construction. If Council is your Principal Certifying Authority you will be notified in writing of the mandatory critical stage inspections and any other inspections required. If you have a private certifier as your Principal Certifying Authority then they will inform you of the inspections needed.
Mandatory critical stage inspections
Clause 61 of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 sets out mandatory critical stage inspections. If these inspections are not carried out the Principal Certifying Authority will not be able to issue an Occupation Certificate. The actual inspections required by the legislation are dependent upon the type of building being constructed, and what class of building it falls into.
Here is a general guide:
- Residential work, which is Class 1 and 10 buildings, includes dwellings, alterations and additions, garages, carports, and swimming pools, requires inspections of footings, slabs, steel reinforcements, frames (including floor), wet area waterproofing, stormwater and final inspections.
- Multiple dwellings are Class 2, 3 and 4 buildings and include multi-unit developments and residential components of commercial or industrial buildings. The mandatory inspections are first footing inspections, wet area waterproofing, stormwater and final inspections.
- Commercial and industrial buildings are Class 5, 6, 7 8 or 9 buildings. Examples include offices, shops, factories and commercial buildings. The mandatory inspections include first footing inspections, stormwater and final inspections.
- Additional inspections to those nominated above may be required and could include checks on internal and external drainage; sewer connection and stormwater.
Arranging an inspection
It is your responsibility to give your principal contractor (builder) the list of the inspections that are required by your Principal Certifying Authority, and as your construction reaches different inspection stages either you, or your principal contractor, will need to contact the Principal Certifying Authority. Depending on the type of building being constructed and how it is being constructed your Principal Certifying Authority may be able to carry out two or more of the required inspections at the same time. If Council is your Principal Certifying Authority you will need to:
- Contact Council on 02 6499 2222 to arrange an inspection or book line (either you or your principal contractor) 48 hours before the inspection is required.
- Let Council know the type of inspection and address of property to be inspected, as well as the Construction Certificate or Complying Development Certificate number
- Make sure you have your stamped plans onsite (they should be available on site throughout construction)
- Remember to have any dogs restrained.
What if the work doesn’t pass inspection?
Should the inspection be found to be defective, you will be required to fix the fault and arrange for a re-inspection of works prior to proceeding to the next stage of construction.
Final inspections
When the whole of the work is completed, a final inspection needs to be carried out to the satisfaction of your Principal Certifying Authority, and an Occupation Certificate issued by the Principal Certifying Authority verifying that the work is completed in accordance with your development consent and is fit for occupation.
© Bega Valley Shire Council 2025
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Contact Us
- 02 6499 2222
- council@begavalley.nsw.gov.au
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Zingel Place
PO Box 492
Bega NSW 2550 -
Monday to Friday 9.00AM to 4.30PM
Administration building Zingel Place Bega
Australia -
ABN: 26 987 935 332