Structural Design & Certification
Structural design and certification is the structural engineer's design and sign-off confirming the building's structural elements - footings, framing, load paths - are engineered to the National Construction Code. Some of it can be needed at DA stage where structural feasibility affects the proposal (a retaining wall, a long-span structure), but most of it is confirmed at Construction Certificate stage. We coordinate the structural engineer and make sure the timing matches what your project actually needs at each stage.
Free consultation
- 1–3 weeks, depending on project complexity
- Quoted per project - engineer's fee plus coordination
- Quoted fixed after a free scope check
Why timing matters more than most people expect
Committing an architect's concept design before a structural engineer has looked at a genuinely constrained site - a steep retaining wall, a long clear span, a basement - is a common source of redesign later. Getting structural input at the right point, not necessarily fully certified but at least sanity-checked, protects the design from a costly late change.
Source: National Construction Code; Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), Part 6.
How it works
Scope check
2–3 days
Confirm which structural elements need engineering input at DA stage, and which wait for Construction Certificate.
Structural design
1–2 weeks
Engineer designs the relevant structural elements to the required standard.
Certification
Timed to Construction Certificate stage
Structural certification issued and integrated with the Construction Certificate documentation.
What we take off your hands
What EHUP handles
- Coordinating a structural engineer suited to your project's scale
- Confirming what needs to be resolved at DA stage versus Construction Certificate stage
- Integrating structural constraints (retaining walls, spans, transfer structures) into the planning case
- Managing certification through to Construction Certificate issue
What you don't have to deal with
- A structural constraint discovered after the DA design is finalised
- Paying for full structural certification before it is actually needed
Frequently asked questions
Do I need this for a DA, or only later?
It depends on the project. A standard house rarely needs structural certification at DA stage; a retaining wall over a certain height, a long-span structure, or a transfer level in a multi-dwelling building often does, because the structural feasibility genuinely affects what can be approved.
Is this the same as a Construction Certificate?
No. Structural certification is the engineer's design and sign-off for the structure itself; the Construction Certificate is the separate approval confirming the overall detailed plans comply with the Building Code of Australia and match the development consent.
What happens if the structural design changes after DA approval?
Minor refinement during Construction Certificate documentation is normal and usually does not require a modification. A genuine change to the approved built form or footprint can require a Section 4.55 modification - we will tell you which applies.
Related services
Development Application (DA)
A Development Application is the merit-assessed approval pathway.
Specialist Reports
Most applications of any size need reports from specialists outside town planning.
Residential Council Approval
Most residential developments do not need a full Development Application.
Why clients choose EHUP
- 10+
- 250+
- 14
- 1
Not sure which approval you need?
Tell us the address and what you want to do. We'll help identify the appropriate planning pathway, whether it is exempt development, complying development or a full DA. Your first conversation is free.