Where Accommodation Projects Stall
Accommodation is one of the most regulated uses there is. The fire upgrades for guest accommodation are extensive. Short-stay has its own registration, day caps and fire standard. Co-living and boarding houses have specific rules most people don't know. And the type you assume you're building, hotel, serviced apartments or co-living, isn't always the one the rules say you are, which changes everything.
Most people underestimate how tightly controlled accommodation is and find out after they commit. We tell you exactly what's achievable on your site, and what it will take, before you sign or settle.
What We Handle
From a boutique hotel to a co-living building or a short-stay operation, here's what we get approved.
By Type:
Hotels and motels
Serviced apartments
Short-term rental accommodation
Co-living and boarding houses
Backpackers and hostels
Mixed-use development
By approval need:
Fitout DA
24/7 trading hours
Acoustic compliance
Added amenities (showers, change rooms)
Signage
We Check What Others Miss
Accommodation is more tightly controlled than almost any other use. Here's what we check before you commit.
Heritage and overlays
Heritage, flood and other controls can shape what’s possible. We check your site against them.
Parking and amenity
Guest numbers drive parking, and management and noise affect amenity. We work it out up front.
Accessibility
If you’re storing fuels, chemicals or dangerous goods, there are separation distances and risk requirements. We know what applies.
Co-living & boarding house standards
These uses have specific room, communal and management requirements. We know what they are.
Short-stay rules
Short-term rental has its own registration, day caps and fire safety standard. We make sure you’re across what applies before you operate.
Fire safety.
Guest accommodation carries some of the strictest fire requirements there are, and converting a building often triggers major upgrades. We flag them early, costed and clear.
Permissibility
We confirm your accommodation type is allowed on the site, since they’re permitted in different zones.
Classification
Hotel, serviced apartments, co-living, boarding house and short-stay are all different uses with different rules. Getting the classification right drives your whole approval, and it’s the most expensive thing to get wrong.
[ How it works ]
Find Out Exactly Where You Stand
[ faqs ]
Got Any Questions?
We’ve heard it all. Here’s everything you need to know before working with us.
Do I need approval to open a hotel or motel?
Yes, almost always. Guest accommodation is a defined use with strict fire, accessibility and parking requirements, and the first check is whether it's permitted on your site. We map the whole pathway before you commit.
Do I need approval for short-term rental or Airbnb?
Often yes, and there's a specific framework for it. Short-term rental has registration, day caps and a fire safety standard, and the rules differ depending on whether you're hosted or not. We confirm exactly what applies to your property.
What are the short-stay rules in NSW?
Short-term rental sits under its own policy, covering registration, how many days you can let, and fire safety. The detail depends on where the property is and how it's run. We tell you what applies before you start.
What's the difference between co-living, a boarding house and serviced apartments?
They're different planning uses with different rules on room sizes, communal space, management and approvals. Which one you fall under changes your whole approval, so we confirm the right classification from the start.
Can I convert a building into accommodation?
Often yes, but it's a change of use, and accommodation usually triggers significant fire and accessibility upgrades. We confirm whether your building can take it, and what it will involve, before you commit.
Do I need approval for a mixed-use development?
Yes. Mixed-use combines residential and commercial uses and involves zoning, density, design and parking considerations. We map the pathway and manage the application.
How long does an accommodation approval take?
We lodge within 48 hours of having what we need. Accommodation determinations can take longer because of fire, accessibility and amenity considerations. Getting the classification and application right up front is what keeps it moving.
[ why choose us ]
Faster Pathways
Fewer Rejections
One Expert Team
Guranteed Approval
Active Project Approvals
in 2026
2019
2021
2023
2024
2025