Section 10.7 Planning Certificate Application

A planning certificate under section 10.7 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), formerly called a section 149 certificate, is issued by the local council and sets out the planning controls that apply to a parcel of land. A section 10.7(2) certificate shows the zoning, the state, regional and local planning controls, and constraints such as land contamination, flooding and bush fire prone land. A section 10.7(2) and (5) certificate adds advice from other authorities and other information the council holds about the land. City of Newcastle calls the 10.7(2) certificate its Basic certificate (the information in Schedule 2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021) and the 10.7(2) and (5) certificate its Comprehensive certificate, which it recommends. Its form says a 10.7(5) certificate cannot be issued on its own.

When you need it

• You are selling land in the City of Newcastle and need the planning certificate for the contract for sale.
• You are buying or developing and want the full planning picture for a lot.

1. 1

   Choose the certificate

   Tick 10.7(2) or 10.7(2) and 10.7(5). Both are listed as issued within 5 working days. Add the urgent fee (within 24 hours on working days) or an additional copy if needed.

2. 2

   Part 1: your details

   Give the applicant name or company, both postal and email addresses, and tick the preferred delivery method (the basic fee covers one delivery). Add phone, contact person and reference.

3. 3

   Part 2: the property

   Give the unit and house number, street, locality, lot, section and deposited or strata plan. Use one application for each lot.

4. 4

   Part 3: owners

   Give the current owners' names and address.

• The council now takes applications online: create or sign in to an account, use "Apply Now" for a fee quote, and submit. You get an email receipt and the certificate is emailed when done.
• The PDF form can still be lodged in person at the Customer Contact Centre, ground floor, 12 Stewart Avenue, Newcastle West; by mail to the Chief Executive Officer, City of Newcastle, PO Box 489, Newcastle NSW 2300; or by email to applications@ncc.nsw.gov.au, after which you are contacted for payment.
• The application is not processed until paid. The form lists cash, cheque (payable to Newcastle City Council) and EFTPOS or card payment; do not send cash by mail. Check the current fees on the council's website.
• The council says certificates are typically emailed within 5 business days, and urgent certificates within 1 business day.

• Where a property spans several lots, the council includes all lots and charges per lot; for strata land, one application covers the whole site.
• Planning certificate fees are non-refundable, so check the lot and plan details before paying.
• The NSW Planning Portal Spatial Viewer shows zoning, but the council notes it does not replace a planning certificate.