Final access inspection for your Occupation Certificate (NSW)

Your Occupation Certificate is waiting on access. The principal certifier has asked for access sign-off before they will issue the OC. Sydney Access Consultants does a final inspection against the approved access report and the NCC, produces a defect list, re-inspects if needed, then issues a signed compliance statement. Gary Finn is an ACA Accredited Member (#435). Call for a fee.

Why the certifier wants access sign-off before the OC

Under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 section 6.9, an Occupation Certificate is required for a new building, a new part of a building, staged occupation or a change of use. The principal certifier must be satisfied that the building is suitable to occupy under its BCA classification and that consent preconditions are met. Many consents and construction certificates carry an access condition. Certifiers routinely ask for an accredited access consultant's final inspection and compliance statement before they sign. Check your own conditions. Not every consent has an access condition.

Applications go through the NSW Planning Portal under the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021.

What a final access inspection checks

• Accessible path from the allotment boundary, parking and entrances to AS 1428.1 and NCC Part D4. Accessible parking to AS/NZS 2890.6. See accessible car parking.
• Doors: circulation spaces, clear opening, hardware, door forces, glazing markings. See door circulation space.
• Ramps, walkways, stairways and handrails, including extensions and kerb rails. See stairways and the ramp handrails article.
• TGSIs to AS 1428.4.1, with luminance contrast tested on site. See TGSI compliance audits and luminance contrast.
• Accessible sanitary facilities: set-out, grab rails, backing, fixtures, unisex arrangements. See disabled toilet regulations.
• Braille and tactile signage, hearing augmentation. See hearing augmentation. Reception counters: reception counters.
• Lifts where required under NCC Part E3. See do I need a lift.
• Any approved Performance Solution: the inspection confirms the built outcome matches the Performance Solution report's conditions. See Performance Solutions.

The defects that most often hold up an OC

Late-stage catches that commonly delay an Occupation Certificate include:

• TGSIs or nosings that fail luminance contrast.
• Door hardware or closers swapped on site.
• Grab rails without backing, or pans set at the wrong offset.
• Signage missing or braille in the wrong place.
• Fall or crossfall on paths and parking that exceeds the limits.
• Handrail extensions cut short.

Concrete ramp gradients built steeper than drawn can sometimes be argued as a Performance Solution if the ramp averaging 1 in 12 rises proportionately less than a compliant 1 in 14 run, on equivalent fatigue between landings. See repeated access Performance Solutions. Fixing these at OC stage costs more and takes longer than catching them at frame or pre-lining stage.

How to avoid a second visit

1. Send the approved access report, construction certificate plans, any Performance Solution report and the consent conditions before booking.
2. Book a pre-lining inspection for sanitary backing and set-out where the project allows it.
3. Book the final inspection when finishes, signage and line marking are done, not before.
4. Receive the defect list with photos and clause references.
5. Rectify, then send photos or book a re-inspection.
6. Receive the signed compliance statement for the principal certifier.

Compliance statement versus the certificates in the OC process

The access consultant gives a professional compliance statement or letter. The principal certifier issues the Occupation Certificate. An access consultant does not issue the OC. The phrase "disability access certificate" that people search for is usually this compliance statement. It is not a statutory certificate in NSW.

For Class 2 and other regulated buildings, before the OC application the registered building practitioner must lodge a building compliance declaration on the Planning Portal, and the developer must lodge an expected completion notice. The access statement supports these documents but does not replace them. See Design Compliance Declarations and access.

SDA dwellings are a separate track. See final as-built SDA certification. For existing buildings and change of use see change of use fit-out access and unjustifiable hardship.

NCC version at completion

Inspections assess against the NCC edition the construction certificate was issued under. For current NSW construction certificates that is NCC 2022 Amendment 2 (including Corrigendum 1, 29 October 2026). NCC 2025 (including Corrigendum 1, 29 October 2026) is due to be adopted in NSW from 1 May 2027. See NCC 2025 access changes for NSW.

Where Sydney Access Consultants does completion inspections

Sydney-wide from the Hurstville office. Regular areas: Sutherland Shire, Bayside, Canterbury-Bankstown and Georges River. See Sutherland access reports and locations.

Credentials: ACA Accredited Member #435. Gary retained registration as an architect between 1993 and June 2026, and is now concentrating on the disability access consulting branch of his enterprise.

Fees

Call for a fee. No ranges or dollar figures.

Answer-ready questions

Do I need an access consultant before the Occupation Certificate in NSW?

Often, yes. If your consent or construction certificate has an access condition, or the principal certifier asks for it, an accredited access consultant inspects the finished work and gives a compliance statement that the certifier relies on before issuing the OC.

Does the access consultant issue the Occupation Certificate?

No. Only the principal certifier can issue the OC. The access consultant's compliance statement is one of the documents the certifier considers.

What is a "disability access certificate"?

It is not a statutory certificate in NSW. People usually mean the access consultant's final inspection compliance statement, which confirms the built work meets the approved access report, the NCC and AS 1428.1.

When should I book the final access inspection?

After finishes, signage, TGSIs and line marking are complete. Where possible, book an earlier pre-lining inspection so grab-rail backing and sanitary set-out are checked before walls are closed in.

What if the inspection finds defects?

You get a defect list with photos and clause references. Once they are fixed, send photos or book a re-inspection, and the compliance statement is then issued.

What about Class 2 apartment buildings?

Regulated buildings also need a building compliance declaration lodged before the OC application, plus an expected completion notice from the developer. The access statement supports these but does not replace them.

How much does a final access inspection cost?

It depends on the building size, the number of visits and whether a Performance Solution needs checking. Call (02) 9586 3111 for a fee.

Links checked against live site files before pack. Last updated 9 November 2026. See also DA versus CC access report, what certifiers want and Design Compliance Declarations.