Demolition rules in North Sydney Council

CDC or DA in North Sydney

North Sydney Council says a complying development certificate (CDC) comes from council or a private certifier, and any work that isn’t exempt or complying needs a development application (DA).

In practice, the heritage grade of the building decides most demolitions here, because North Sydney grades individual buildings, not just whole areas.

• DA or CDC: the NSW approval routes

Heritage items, contributory, neutral and uncharacteristic

Section 13 of the DCP sorts buildings in conservation areas into grades, each with its own demolition rule.

• Heritage items must not be demolished. Council considers it only with a justification covering significance, structure, pest reports, danger and the alternatives, a quantity surveyor’s report if cost is part of the argument, and the replacement plans lodged at the same time.
• Contributory items must not be demolished, on the same basis, and the application also has to show their contribution to the streetscape doesn’t warrant keeping them.
• Neutral items should not be demolished.
• Uncharacteristic items can be replaced, but the new building has to lift the site to at least neutral.

How much of North Sydney is affected

A demolition report goes with any application to demolish a heritage item or contributory item. On the NSW planning maps, conservation areas cover all of Cremorne Point, about three quarters of Lavender Bay, more than half of Kirribilli and McMahons Point, and about 40% of Crows Nest. Around 260 listed heritage items sit inside North Sydney itself and about 170 in Neutral Bay.

Council’s appendix lists the grade of each building, so check yours before you plan a knockdown.

Hazardous materials and the waste plan

Section 14 needs a hazardous building material survey with a DA to demolish a commercial, industrial or retail building over 500 m², a utility structure or any building on a proposed childcare site. For other demolitions, council may require one as a condition. The survey covers asbestos, synthetic mineral fibres and PCBs, among others.

Every DA involving demolition needs a waste management plan showing where materials are sorted and stored and how vehicles get in (Section 19).

Construction management, hoardings and dilapidation

Section 11 of the DCP covers how the job runs on the street side. These are the parts that most often apply to a house demolition.

• A construction management plan may be needed for demolition within 2 metres of the street alignment, or of a building of 2 or more storeys.
• Explosives can’t be used for demolition or excavation.
• Footpaths and pavements are surveyed for damage before and after a skip or crane is used, and a deposit is lodged with the permit.
• A site left vacant after demolition is fully fenced with solid hoarding.
• Demolishing a building 7.5 metres or taller within 3.5 metres of the street alignment needs a Class B (overhead) hoarding. A Class A hoarding is at least 2,100 mm high.

Road permits and works zones

A crane, deliveries, skip bins or a road closure on a North Sydney road or footpath need a permit, applied for 5 business days ahead (10 for a road closure). Council lists a $208 application fee and $363 a day for a metered space or $249 for a non-metered one, skip bins for up to 2 weeks, and notices to properties within 100 metres at least 2 business days before. Figures as listed on 10 October 2026.

A works zone needs an approved construction traffic management plan first. It runs for an initial 16 weeks, review takes 30 business days, and the 2026–27 fee is $1,990 with a $10,000 security deposit for a DA up to $4 million. Where the block has room, we load on site instead.

Trees and tree bonds

North Sydney protects trees 5 metres or more high, with a crown of 5 metres or more, or a trunk circumference of 500 mm or more at ground level, and any tree on public land. Development within 5 metres of a tree needs a DA, and a tree permit costs $90 from 1 July 2026.

Retained trees are protected to AS 4970, with an arborist report from an AQF level 5 consultant for work inside a tree protection zone. Council sets a tree bond of at least $1,000 per tree.

Suburbs in North Sydney Council

These rules apply across the council area. Each suburb page has the local planning picture and how we work there.

• Demolition in North Sydney
• Demolition in Neutral Bay
• Demolition in Crows Nest
• Demolition in Cremorne Point
• Demolition in Kirribilli
• Demolition in McMahons Point
• Demolition in Cammeray
• Demolition across the North Shore
• House demolition in Sydney