On occasions some properties are used for a purpose that has not followed an approval process. Other times, work carried out on a property may be in breach of their consent approval. If you have concerns about development work that:
follow the steps below to resolve the issue.
Check our online DA tracker to see if the development is approved. If you don't see an approval, consider whether the development meets the exempt development requirements. Developments that meet the exempt criteria do not need approvals or require notification to neighbours. You can view these via the NSW Legislation website.
The DA tracker will also detail what the conditions of the approval are.
Have a friendly chat about their development to find out what is going on and if the work is exempt development. If the work is exempt, then there is no need to report it. If your neighbour is unapproachable or does not agree that a problem exists, you can report the issue to us and we will investigate.
Provide as much detail as you can regarding the issue.
Report now
Where the building work does not meet the exempt development requirements and there is no approval for the work, we will investigate and take appropriate action. An investigation may take a significant amount of time to complete, particularly where the issues are complex.
Dust blowing from a development, or muddy water running off a site could be a breach of the development consent. It is also a pollution concern.
Even if the development is exempt, you can still report the pollution using our report pollution form.
Always check the DA tracker first to see the development details before making a report.