You've lodged your Development Application, the fees are paid, and then an email arrives from council: a request for further information, often called an RFI. The assessment clock generally stops until you respond. For many homeowners this is the most frustrating part of the whole process, because it feels like going backwards.
The good news is that most RFIs are predictable. In our experience, the same handful of issues come up again and again. Deal with them in the drawings before you lodge and you give your application the best chance of moving through without a pause.
The most common reasons councils ask for more
1. The drawings don't agree with each other
If the floor plan shows a window that isn't on the elevation, or the site plan setback doesn't match the dimension on the floor plan, the assessing planner has to stop and ask which one is right. Inconsistency is one of the quickest ways to an RFI. Every sheet in a DA set should tell the same story.
2. Missing or out-of-date survey information
Council needs to know existing ground levels, boundary positions, neighbouring windows and trees. If the plans are drawn over an old or partial survey, heights and overshadowing can't be checked properly. (We cover this in detail in Why You Need a Detail Survey Before Drafting.)
3. Shadow diagrams that don't show enough
Most Sydney councils want shadow diagrams for 9am, 12pm and 3pm on the winter solstice, showing the impact on the neighbours' private open space and living-room windows. Diagrams that only show your own block, or that use the wrong north point, are a regular trigger.
4. BASIX commitments that aren't shown on the plans
Your BASIX certificate lists commitments such as glazing types, insulation, rainwater tanks and fixtures. The plans need to show them, and the numbers need to match. A mismatch between the certificate and the drawings is a very common RFI. (See BASIX Explained for NSW Homeowners.)
5. Stormwater and landscaping not addressed
Councils generally want to see where roof water goes, whether on-site detention is needed, and how much of the site stays as landscaped or deep-soil area. Missing calculations or a vague note like "stormwater to engineer's detail" can lead to a request.
6. Privacy and setback questions
Where a design relies on a variation to a setback, height or floor-space control, council will expect a clear written justification in the Statement of Environmental Effects. If the reasoning isn't there, the planner will ask for it.
Before you lodge: a quick RFI check
- Every sheet matches: windows, dimensions, levels
- Current detail and contour survey used
- Winter shadow diagrams at 9am, 12pm and 3pm
- BASIX commitments shown on plans and matching the certificate
- Stormwater concept and landscape calculations included
- Any variation clearly justified in the SEE
- Trees on and near the site identified
- Neighbour notification plan prepared (if council requires it)
What to do if you do get an RFI
Don't panic, and don't rush a partial reply. Read the request carefully, list every item, and respond to all of them in one go. A clear cover letter that answers each point in order makes the planner's job easy. If amended drawings are needed, make sure the revision is noted on every changed sheet so the planner can see exactly what has moved.
If you're unsure what council is really asking for, it is often worth a short call to the assessing officer. A five-minute conversation can save another round of back and forth.
The takeaway
An RFI isn't a refusal. It's a sign that something was unclear. The best defence is a drawing set that's consistent, based on good site information, and prepared with your council's specific controls in mind. That's where careful drafting earns its keep.
Talk to Sam, our Marketing & Operations ManagerStart with your address
Send us your address and what you'd like to do. We'll check the zone, the lot and your council's controls, and come back with the likely approval path and a fee proposal. Every project is quoted on its own.