Quick Answer

Demolishing a house in NSW takes 2 to 6 weeks end-to-end:

Approval (CDC: 1–3 weeks, DA: 6–12 weeks)
Service disconnections (1–2 weeks)
Asbestos inspection and removal if found (1–2 weeks)
Physical demolition (1–3 days for a single-storey home)
Waste removal and site clean-up (1–3 days)

Typical cost for a single-storey weatherboard or fibro home in the Illawarra: $15,000 to $30,000, plus separate costs for asbestos removal, service disconnections, and council fees. Two-storey, brick, or heritage properties cost significantly more.

Step 1: Approval — CDC or DA?

You cannot legally demolish a residential structure in NSW without one of two approval pathways.

Complying Development Certificate (CDC)

A CDC is issued by a private certifier rather than the council. It’s faster (typically 1–3 weeks) and used for the majority of standard residential demolitions. To qualify, your property must not be heritage-listed, not be in a heritage conservation area, and must meet the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008.

Cost: typically $1,500–$3,500 for the certifier’s fee plus government charges.

Development Application (DA)

A DA goes through Wollongong City Council and takes longer — usually 6–12 weeks. A DA is required if the property is heritage-listed or in a conservation area, the structure is a contributory building, or the site has flooding, landslip, or contamination issues.

Cost: typically $1,500–$5,000+ in council fees, plus any reports required (heritage impact statement, asbestos survey, etc.).

The team can recommend a certifier and advise which pathway applies to your property — typically as part of the initial site visit.

Step 2: Pre-demolition Asbestos Inspection

In NSW, a pre-demolition hazardous materials survey is standard practice for any building constructed before 1990. Around 1 in 3 Australian homes built before then contain asbestos.

A licensed asbestos assessor inspects suspect materials: eaves, internal wall sheeting, bathroom and laundry walls, vinyl floor tiles, roof sheeting, fences. Suspected materials are sampled and lab-tested. DemoEx offers on-site sample testing — $200 for the first sample, $80 for each additional sample.

If asbestos is found, it must be removed before demolition begins by a licensed contractor. Skipping this step is illegal, dangerous, and exposes the homeowner to liability for any contaminated debris incorrectly disposed of.

Step 3: Service Disconnections

Before demolition, all utilities must be physically disconnected and capped:

Electricity — apply via Endeavour Energy (Illawarra distribution network) for a permanent disconnection. Allow 10–15 business days.
Gas — Jemena natural gas or LPG supplier. Allow 5–10 business days.
Water and sewer — Sydney Water disconnection. Sometimes required at the main, not just at the meter.
Telecoms — NBN/Telstra disconnection. Allow 5–10 business days.

The team coordinates these on your behalf where requested — but applications must be in the property owner’s name.

Step 4: Neighbour and Council Notifications

Most CDCs and DAs require:

Written notice to adjoining owners (typically 7 working days)
Council dilapidation notification if work is close to public infrastructure
SafeWork NSW notification for licensed asbestos removal (5 working days minimum)
Site signage with licence/CDC details visible from the street

DemoEx handles neighbour notifications — see our neighbour notification templates and process.

Step 5: The Demolition Itself

Physical demolition of a typical single-storey home takes 1 to 3 days depending on construction type:

Weatherboard/fibro: fastest, often a single day
Brick veneer: 1–2 days
Full brick: 2–3 days
Two-storey: 3–5 days typically

The excavator does most of the structural work. Concrete slabs are broken up and removed separately. The site is cleaned to council requirements before handover.

Step 6: Waste Removal and Disposal

All demolition waste goes to EPA-approved facilities:

Concrete, brick, and tiles — recycled and crushed for road base or fill
Timber — sorted: clean timber recycled, treated timber to landfill
Metal — scrap recyclers
Asbestos — EPA-approved asbestos disposal facility, full chain-of-custody documentation

Tip dockets and waste tracking documentation provided on request — increasingly required for council sign-off and insurance purposes.

Full Cost Breakdown

Cost Component	Typical Range
CDC certifier fee	$1,500 – $3,500
DA council fee (if required)	$1,500 – $5,000+
Pre-demolition asbestos survey	$500 – $1,500
Asbestos removal (if found)	$2,000 – $15,000+
Service disconnections (all utilities)	$1,500 – $3,000
Physical demolition (single-storey)	$15,000 – $30,000
Slab removal (if required)	$3,000 – $8,000

Always get a written quote based on a site visit. Phone-only quotes almost always miss critical scope.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be on site during demolition?

No. The team handles the full process. Most clients drop in once or twice during the job to see progress.

Can the slab stay if I’m rebuilding?

Sometimes. Whether the existing slab can be reused depends on its condition, the new build’s footprint, and your structural engineer’s assessment. We’ll quote with and without slab removal so you can make the call.

What about the pool?

Pool demolition (in-ground) is specialist scope. Two options: full removal (recommended for resale clarity) or partial demolition with engineered fill. Partial fills must be documented for future buyers.

How do I avoid dodgy contractors?

Three checks: (1) Ask for the demolition licence and current insurance certificates — DemoEx holds Restricted Demolition Licence AD214216 and $20M public liability via QBE. (2) Ask which EPA-approved asbestos disposal facilities they use. (3) Ask for two recent local references and call them.

Service Area

DemoEx services the Illawarra, South Coast, and Southern Highlands — approximately 55 km from Unanderra. Same-day site visits in Wollongong, next day in Kiama, 2–3 days in Bowral.