Once you have prepared the documents you need for approval, you, your builder or the design professional that prepared the plans for you can lodge them with us.

The lodgement process

The development application lodgement process is as follows.

1. Applicant submits development application to us in person, by post or via eDevelopment.
2. We do a completeness check to ensure the minimum requirements for lodging a DA have been met. We aim to complete lodgement checks within 2-3 business days).
3. If the DA submission is complete, we send a fee advice requesting payment of the relevant fees.
4. If the DA submission is incomplete, we advise you and request you submit the additional information.
5. On payment of the fees, we will formally lodge the DA, start the assessment, issue any necessary public notification and make referrals to relevant entities. 

Document requirements

When lodging a development application, please note these important requirements:

• the relevant development application lodgement form must be used;
• the applicant is responsible for identifying the track - code track, merit track or impact track - and completing the lodgement form prior to lodgement;
• all plans and documentation must be provided on CD if submitting in person or by post or attached in an email if submitting electronically and must meet the following requirements:
• • each document must be saved as a PDF and named in accordance with the naming convention (PDF 50.1kb),
  • all plans must be rotated to landscape, and
  • all plans are to be clear and concise and consistent with Australian Standard 1100.301 - 1995 and Australian Standard 1100.301 supplementary as updated from time to time;

• where specified on the relevant development application lodgement form, some plans and documentation must be provided in printed form as well as on CD;
• if the development application is for a development that had been undertaken without required development approval, a plan of development prepared by a registered surveyor must be submitted with it and the plan must set out the dimensions of the development; and
• on-the-spot lodgement checks are not available - we aim to complete lodgement checks within 24-48 hours.

Submitting development application (DA) documents

You can lodge your DA documents:

• using eDevelopment which is a convenient way to lodge your application online. Follow the eDevelpment link to find out how to register.
• in person - visit our Dickson Customer Service Centre at 16 Challis St Dickson with your completed application form, a CD with all of your DA documentation saved in PDF and any printed documents that are required (see application form for requirements) between 8.30am and 4.30pm weekdays
• by mail - send a completed application form and a CD with all of your DA documentation saved in PDF and any printed documents that are required (see application form for requirements) to the Applications Secretariat , PO Box 365, Mitchell, ACT, 2911.

Payment of fees

Once your application has been accepted for lodgement, you will be contacted about the need to pay the required development application fees. You can pay these fees by:

• using Canberra Connect's secure bill payment portal using credit card;
• calling us on phone: (02) 6207 1923 to pay by credit card; or
• visiting our Dickson Customer Service Centre to pay by credit card, EFTPOS, cash or cheque. Cheques can be made payable to ACT Planning and Land Authority or Receiver of Public Monies.

Credit cards accepted are MasterCard or Visa.

Once payment is accepted for the correct amount, your development application is officially lodged.

After lodgement

After payment of the correct fees, we will then assess your development application, and depending on the track it is in, the application may require public notification before we can provide a notice of decision.

Incorrect tracks

The following table outlines what happens to development applications lodged in the incorrect track.

Amendments

An amendment to an approved code track, merit track or impact track development application will only be accepted if:

• the development applied for in the amendment will be substantially the same as the development applied for originally; and
• the assessment track for the application will not change if the application is amended.