About principal certifiers
If you're planning a development that will need approval you may need to appoint a principal certifier.
A principal certifier can be:
- a registered building surveyor
- your local council or
- a registered body corporate (certification company).
You choose who you’ll engage as a certifier. Your builder is not allowed to appoint the certifier or influence your choice of a certifier.
What the certifier does
The principal certifier:
- oversees the construction phase of the development and
- completes mandatory building inspections, known as critical stage inspections, to make sure that building standards are met.
When building work has finished and all requirements are satisfied, the principal certifier will complete final inspections and may issue the final occupation certificate.
Checks to complete
First you need to find a principal certifier.
Before appointing a principal certifier and signing a contract with them:
- go to the building certifiers public register
- check that the certifier has the right class of registration for the work and read the conditions, if any, on their registration
- make sure their registration and insurance are current
- find out if any actions have been taken against the certifier by looking them up on the disciplinary register
- carefully read the contract for certification work
- read the document that must accompany your contract with the certifier Information about registered certifiers – building surveyors and building inspectors – PDF.
Before you sign a contract
Visit the NSW Fair Trading website for information on what to look for in a building contract.
For more information about the types of development certificates:
- contact your local council or
- visit the planning portal.
More information
To find out about certifiers, enforcement powers, how to replace a certifier and resolving concerns about a certifier, visit the Building Commission NSW website:
Contact
If you have feedback or an enquiry contact the agency providing the service.
Contact agency: Building Commission NSW