Proponents of development can potentially gain approval by a complying development certificate.
Complying development certificates involves a Registered Certifier (who can be in private practise) assessing whether a proposed development is "specified complying development"; whether it is not precluded from being "complying development" by any overarching requirements; and whether it satisfies the development standards for that "specified complying development".
The main instrument that specifies types of complying development is State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (Codes SEPP 2008). There are also some other State policies and local environmental plans that specify types of complying development. Some of the categories of specified complying development include alterations and additions to residential development, detached dwelling houses, dual occupancies, secondary dwellings, manor homes, group homes, terrace rows, new commercial and industrial buildings, alterations to commercial and industrial buildings, and uses of commercial and industrial buildings.
There are some overarching restrictions on complying development - for example "environmentally sensitive land". The development standards applicable to complying development are black and white - a development has to clearly satisfy the development standard in order for the development to be "complying development". The development standards are not intended to be open to interpretation.
Firm Premise produces reports based on proposed development plans, which set out whether the proposal can be complying development. Those reports can be initially based on a rough concept and can also be prepared for a fully realised scheme. Once all the requirements set out in the report are satisfied, the proposed plans and other documentation can be provided to a Registered Certifier, along with the report and the forms that the Registered Certifier requires to be completed. If the Registered Certifier is satisfied that all of the requirements are satisfied, the Registered Certifier can then issue a complying development certificate for the proposed development. The development can then proceed in accordance with the conditions imposed under that certificate.
Please note that Firm Premise is not a certification company. Firm Premise does not have expertise in the Building Code of Australia. A proponent will need to engage a designer that is knowledgable in the Building Code of Australia and/or will need to engage a building regulations consultant for advice during the design development phase.