What Does DA Approved Mean?

The Short Answer

A Development Approval (DA) is the formal permission from your local council (in Brisbane: Brisbane City Council) to develop land in a specific way — to build a particular type, size, and configuration of buildings. "DA approved" means the council has reviewed the proposed plans and conditions and given the green light to build them.

A property described as "DA approved" or "with DA" comes with that permission already attached, saving the next buyer the time, cost, and risk of obtaining it themselves.

What a DA Actually Includes

A typical DA package contains:

• Approved plans — site plan, elevations, floor plans, sometimes detailed design drawings
• Conditions of approval — council requirements that must be met before, during, or after construction (drainage, landscaping, infrastructure contributions, design tweaks)
• Specific use rights — what can be built and used on the site (e.g., "30 multiple dwelling units to a maximum height of 21m")
• Validity period — usually 4-6 years from approval, sometimes extendable

The Two Types of Application

Code Assessable

The proposed development is consistent with the planning scheme. Council assesses against published codes and approves (or refuses) on technical compliance. No public notification is required.

• Timeframe: 6-12 weeks
• Lower risk
• Lower cost
• Common for sites where the proposed development matches the zone code (e.g. building 3-storey townhouses on LMR-zoned land)

Impact Assessable

The proposed development goes beyond the planning scheme controls — extra height, denser yield, or a use not normally permitted. Council assesses against broader strategic outcomes and the application must be publicly notified.

• Timeframe: 3-6+ months
• Higher risk (community submissions can trigger refusal or appeals)
• Higher cost (community engagement, design refinement, potential appeals)
• Common for sites pushing zone limits

Why DA-Approved Sites Are Worth More

A DA-approved site typically trades at a 10-30% premium to an equivalent site without DA. Reasons:

1. DA risk is eliminated — the buyer doesn't have to gamble on whether council will approve
2. Time saved — buyer can move straight to construction-finance and pre-sales
3. Yield is locked in — buyer knows exactly what they can build
4. Holding costs are reduced — typical DA period eliminates 6-12 months of carrying cost

The premium varies by site complexity. Simple code-assessable approvals add modest premium (10-15%) because the next buyer could easily get one themselves. Complex impact-assessable approvals on contested sites can add 25-30% because the approval has genuine optionality value.

When to Get DA Before Selling

Vendors sometimes consider obtaining their own DA before sale. Pros:

• Captures the DA premium yourself
• Demonstrates yield to buyers (anchors price expectations)
• Potentially attracts a wider buyer pool

Cons:

• Costs $50,000-$300,000+ depending on complexity
• Takes 6-18 months
• Locks in a specific design that may not match the eventual buyer's preference
• Requires planning expertise (or paid consultants)

For most vendors, the answer is don't — let the developer obtain the DA on contract. The exception: sites with complex approval risk where pre-approval materially de-risks the sale (e.g., character-overlay sites, height-bonus sites). See Should I Get Development Approval Before Selling My Property?.

Practical Tips for Buyers and Sellers

For vendors selling DA-approved sites: ensure all conditions are clearly summarised, the validity period is well-documented, and any extension requests are flagged.

For buyers acquiring DA-approved sites: review every condition carefully — some "approved" DAs come with onerous conditions (significant infrastructure contributions, design changes required) that materially affect feasibility. A specialist advisor or town planner should review the DA before contract signing.