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A development application (or DA) is a type of application made in New South Wales under Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to seek permission for the carrying out of development.^[1] In this context, development can include the construction or alteration of buildings, the use of land, the subdivision of land, and demolition.^[2][3]

Nearly 85% of DAs are assessed by local Councils,^[4] of which 97% were determined by Council staff in FY21.^[5] 90% of DAs are for works that cost less than $1 million.^[6]

DAs must be assessed having regard to various considerations, including relevant policies, environmental impacts, site suitability, public submissions, and the public interest.^[7][8] It therefore involves a level of environmental impact assessment.

All DAs must be submitted through the NSW Planning Portal.^[9]

Not every type of development requires a DA, with some very low impact works classified as 'exempt development' such that no approval is required.^[10] A 'complying development certificate' (CDC) may also be available as an alternative to a DA where certain standards are satisfied.^[11]

A development application may be determined by approval (either conditionally or unconditionally) to issue a 'development consent' or refusal, but when approved it is nearly always subject to conditions.^[12]: 9 Conditions must be authorised by relevant legislation and satisfy the "Newbury Test".^[12]: 11

An applicant may apply for a review against the decision of a consent authority.^[13] An applicant has 6 months to lodge a review and can decide whether a review is determined by a local planning panel where the original DA was not.^[14] On appeal, the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales re-makes the original decision, and decides whether to impose any conditions on the grant of consent.^[15]

A DA made by or on behalf of the Crown is called a Crown development application,^[16] and are subject to special arrangements, including that they cannot be refused without the approval of the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, and that a consent authority is subject to direction by the Minister.^[17] The definition of the Crown extends to other bodies, such as certain Australian universities.^[18][19][20]

State significant development (SSD) proposals are also assessed as a type of DA^[21] and include the requirements for community consultation, in some cases including public hearings^[22] by the Independent Planning Commission, such as some SSD applications exceeding 50 public objections.^[23]