FlagshipInstant PDFBuying Vacant Land Guide
Our flagship masterguide: a 103-page interactive investigation system for buying vacant land — registered lots, off-the-plan subdivisions, rural and unsewered land, and future development potential.
A$159
Making NSW Planning Simple
Before You Buy.Before You Build.Plan First.
Property planning in NSW doesn’t need to feel overwhelming. Explore practical guides, interactive toolkits and professional planning advice designed to help you understand your property, navigate the development process and move forward with confidence.
Residential PlanningProperty DevelopmentDue Diligence
Knowledge should come before commitment.
Our founding belief
DA vs CDC Guidance128 NSW CouncilsBushfire & Flood Due DiligenceLEP & DCP TranslationExempt Development ChecklistsSection 10.7 CertificatesExpert AdvisoryInstant PDF Toolkits
DA vs CDC Guidance128 NSW CouncilsBushfire & Flood Due DiligenceLEP & DCP TranslationExempt Development ChecklistsSection 10.7 CertificatesExpert AdvisoryInstant PDF Toolkits
Plan First · Post-Approval Roadmap
Your DA is approved. What now?
You've received your development consent — but now you're faced with pages of conditions, certificates, contributions and requirements. Upload your consent and receive a personalised, easy-to-follow roadmap explaining what your conditions mean, what needs to happen next, and where to find the relevant council resources.
Personalised service · A$69 · GST included
- Every condition explained in plain English, linked to your actual consent
- Staged from Construction Certificate to Occupation Certificate
- How to lodge each follow-on approval — and where to find it
The Founding Collection
Understand your property. Know your next step.
Start Where You Are
What are you planning?
Choose the path closest to your project. Each one leads to plain-English guidance, practical checklists and the right next step.
Our Method
Educate first. Commit second.
01
EDUCATE
Understand the fundamentals of the NSW planning system through plain-English guides, articles and step-by-step learning resources.
02
INVESTIGATE
Use structured toolkits, worksheets and checklists to uncover zoning, development controls and site constraints.
03
PLAN
Map the possible approval pathways, organise your information and prepare for the next professional conversation.
04
CONNECT
Connect with a suitably qualified planning professional about your specific property and proposal — Planner Connect is coming soon.
05
PROGRESS
Move forward with confidence — and, as services grow, access tailored reviews, reports and lodgement support.
Who We Help
From first homes to full developments
Featured Guide
Before you renovate, know what your block allows
The difference between these two homes isn't just design — it's planning. Our renovation toolkit walks you through the rules, approval pathways and neighbourhood considerations before you spend a dollar on drawings.
NSW Homeowner Guide · Instant PDF
Get the renovation toolkitThe Digital Store
Toolkits that pay for themselves
FlagshipInstant PDF
ResidentialInstant PDFRenovating Your Home: NSW Edition
First-floor additions, rear ground extensions, heritage conservation areas, and avoiding neighbour disputes — a 50-page interactive guide covering approvals, building standards and design that lasts.
A$89
Safety & ComplianceInstant PDFBushfire Planning & BAL Assessment Kit
Planning for Bush Fire Protection (PBF) standards, BAL 12.5 to BAL FZ requirements, and asset protection zones.
A$89
Early Readers
What landowners are saying
"I nearly bought a block with an easement straight through the middle of my build envelope. The due diligence checklist paid for itself a hundred times over."
"Forty pages of conditions meant nothing to me. The roadmap turned them into a list I could actually work through — and told me exactly which ones needed the certifier."
"We'd talked about hosting campers for years but assumed it was too hard. The rural guides showed us the exempt pathway and what to check with council first."
Why We Exist
“We’ve sat on the council side of the counter. We know exactly where applications stall — and how to make sure yours doesn’t.”
PLAN FIRST NSW was founded by a NSW planning professional with more than 20 years across customer service, property development, planning and government — turning that experience into guidance any property owner can use.
Common Questions
The questions every NSW property owner asks
Complying Development is a fast-track approval via a private certifier or council using statewide SEPP criteria, typically approved in around 20 working days if every numeric standard is met. A Development Application (DA) is assessed by your local council against local LEPs and DCPs, involves public notification, and typically takes several months.