Building and Development Certifiers Act 2018 (NSW)
The NSW Act that registers and regulates certifiers (building surveyors, pool and subdivision certifiers). Replaced the Building Professionals Act 2005.
Ask Chalkline about this →The Building and Development Certifiers Act 2018 (NSW) is the NSW statute that regulates certifiers. It provides for the registration of people carrying out certification work and the accreditation of others doing regulated work, and it replaced the Building Professionals Act 2005 (verified 2026-05-24, NSW legislation).
Who it covers:
- Building surveyors (the main certifiers)
- Certain engineers
- Swimming pool inspectors
- Strata and subdivision certifiers
What it set out to do: clarify certifier roles and responsibilities, improve certifier independence, tighten probity (who is fit to hold registration), and improve licensing, complaint handling, and discipline (verified 2026-05-24, NSW Fair Trading).
How accreditation works: the Act lets approved professional associations act as accreditation authorities, a shift from the single regulator under the old Act. Registered certifiers appear on the public Building Certifiers register, and the scheme is administered by Building Commission NSW.
Why it matters to a builder: the certifier who signs off your DA conditions, inspections, and the occupation certificate is registered and bound by this Act. Its independence rules shape how the certifier deals with you on a job: a certifier is meant to act impartially, not as the builder’s agent. This is NSW-specific; other states regulate certifiers and building surveyors under their own laws.
Also known as: BDC Act, Certifiers Act (NSW).
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Last updated: 2026-05-24. Verified: 2026-05-24. Quarterly review for currency.