Code Assessed Performance Assessed (SA)

Code Assessed Performance Assessed is the South Australian assessment category under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (SA) and the Planning and Design Code for development proposals that do not meet the Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) criteria of the relevant zone but can still be approved by demonstrating compliance with the performance outcomes of the underlying policy. It is the most common SA pathway for residential work that exceeds standard zone provisions, typically including a public notification period. Verified per the PDI Act 2016 and PlanSA assessment framework (2026-05-23).

The four SA assessment categories (PDI Act framework):

Category	What it means	Typical residential application
Accepted	Standard land use with no assessment trigger	Standard detached dwelling on residential lot complying with zone DTS
Code Assessed Deemed-to-Satisfy	Meets DTS criteria of the relevant policy	Standard residential build inside DTS envelope
Code Assessed Performance Assessed (this)	Misses DTS but can be approved against performance outcomes; usually with public notification	Custom residential, multi-dwelling, larger dwellings exceeding standard envelope
Restricted Development	Most restrictive; assessed by the State Planning Commission	Major projects with significant environmental or character impact

The DTS vs PA distinction:

Each policy in the Planning and Design Code has two layers:

Layer	Description
Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS)	Specific measurable criteria (height, setbacks, FSR, site coverage). If you meet all DTS, the proposal is automatically compliant on that point.
Performance Outcomes (PO)	Qualitative outcomes the DTS is designed to achieve (e.g. “amenity to adjoining properties”, “consistent streetscape”).

If your proposal misses any DTS criterion, you can still be approved by demonstrating it meets the Performance Outcome the DTS was designed to satisfy. This is the Performance Assessed pathway.

Worked example:

A custom dwelling on a 700 m² R1 lot in Adelaide:

DTS for the zone: maximum 2-storey, 8 m height, 30% site coverage.
Proposal: 3-storey, 10.5 m height (within building height envelope), 38% site coverage (with significant landscaping).

The proposal misses two DTS items (height + site coverage), so it cannot use the Deemed-to-Satisfy pathway. Instead, it goes through Performance Assessed: the applicant argues against the Performance Outcomes (typically “consistent character of the streetscape” and “amenity of adjoining properties”) through:

Streetscape photography demonstrating adjacent dwellings are also 2-3 storey.
Solar access analysis showing no adverse shadow impact on neighbours.
Landscape plan exceeding the 25% landscaped area minimum.

If the application stands up, the council/Assessment Panel can approve it despite the DTS exceedances.

Public notification:

Performance Assessed development with certain types of impact (height variation, density, adjacent zones) triggers a mandatory public notification period:

Notification	Duration	When
Online notification	10 business days minimum	Most Performance Assessed
Letter to adjoining and adjacent owners	10 BD	Where impact may extend beyond the site
Site sign	Throughout notification	Where impact is visible from the street

After notification, the council/Assessment Panel considers any representations received before making a decision.

Who decides:

Authority	When
Council Assessment Panel	Standard residential Performance Assessed
State Commission Assessment Panel	Some categories of significant residential development
Council building officer (delegated)	Some routine PA decisions
Court of Appeal (ERD Court)	Appeals from council/panel decisions

Documents required for a Performance Assessed application:

Application form lodged via PlanSA online portal.
Site plan, elevations, floor plans at standard scales.
Statement of Effect addressing each DTS criterion missed and the corresponding Performance Outcome argument.
Heritage / bushfire / flood / other specialist reports where applicable.
Neighbour consultation evidence (optional but persuasive).
Fees: typically $1,200-$3,500 for residential plus advertising costs.

Timeline:

Phase	Duration
Lodgement → start of public notification	10-20 BD
Public notification period	10 BD minimum
Submissions analysis + decision	4-8 weeks after notification ends
Total typical residential	3-5 months

Add 2-4 months for complex cases or appeals.

Common reasons Performance Assessed is refused:

Refusal reason	What it means
Inadequate Performance Outcome justification	Application doesn’t explain WHY the DTS exceedance still meets the policy intent
Substantial adverse impact on neighbours	Solar, privacy, noise, drainage impact too high
Inconsistency with the streetscape	Bulk and scale don’t fit the precinct
Strong public objections	Multiple substantive submissions from adjoining properties
Failure of multiple Performance Outcomes	Misses too many performance criteria to compensate via others

Builder takeaway:

For SA residential exceeding the DTS envelope, brief the client on the Performance Assessed pathway early: 3-5 months minimum, not weeks.
Engage an SA-experienced planning consultant for the Statement of Effect: generic statements fail.
Where possible, consult adjoining neighbours before lodgement; supportive submissions weigh against later objections.
Don’t assume “PlanSA approval” is automatic on PA pathway: the Assessment Panel has real discretion.

Cross-state equivalents:

State	Equivalent assessment category
NSW	DA assessed under EP&A Act s4.15 (merit assessment)
VIC	Discretionary use under planning scheme (most residential)
QLD	Code assessable / impact assessable development under Planning Act 2016
SA	Code Assessed Performance Assessed (this) under PDI Act
WA	Discretionary approval under planning scheme

Also known as: PA; Performance Assessed; Code Assessed PA; Performance pathway; Performance-Assessed development.

Category: Approvals & DA.

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