By Phil Brown · Published 15 January 2026
Quick answer: On Sydney's Northern Beaches in 2026, a draftsman typically charges $4,000 to $15,000 for the design stage, $2,500 to $5,000 for DA or CDC drawings, and $1,500 to $3,000 for construction documentation. A complete set of plans for a renovation usually lands between $8,000 and $20,000 depending on complexity. Unlike most firms, we publish these prices.
Drafting fees buy three distinct stages. The design stage covers site measure, concept design, revisions and 3D concepts, which is where your ideas take shape and most of the value is created. The approval stage covers the full drawing set for a Development Application or Complying Development Certificate, plus lodgement and responses to council or certifier questions. The documentation stage covers construction-ready drawings: sections, schedules, BASIX and NCC compliance notes that your builder prices and builds from. You can see the full breakdown on our pricing page.
Four things move the number more than anything else. Project size is obvious: a granny flat costs less to document than a two-storey extension. Site complexity matters on the Beaches more than most places, because steep blocks in Bilgola, flood land in Narrabeen or coastal hazard lots in Collaroy need extra design care and consultant coordination. The approval pathway matters because CDC documentation is leaner than a contested DA. And revision appetite matters: a client who wants five concept iterations pays more than one who briefs clearly once.
Architects commonly charge a percentage of the build cost, often quoted around 8 to 12 percent for full service. On a $800,000 Northern Beaches renovation that can mean $60,000 or more. A draftsman charging fixed fees for the same approval outcome typically costs a fraction of that. The trade-off is design ambition: for one-of-a-kind architectural statements, an architect earns their fee. For the vast majority of renovations, extensions, granny flats and family homes, a good draftsman delivers the same approved, buildable plans for far less. Many of our clients work with us precisely because they got an architect's quote first.
Brief clearly with photos of homes you like. Decide your real budget before concept design starts, because designing twice is the most common cost blowout. Choose a draftsman who knows your council: plans that anticipate Northern Beaches Council's controls avoid paid rounds of amendments. And ask for fixed pricing up front, which is how we quote every project.
FAQs
No. Council DA fees, certifier CDC fees, and specialist reports (survey, BASIX, bushfire, stormwater) are separate. We itemise every expected cost in your fixed quote so there are no surprises.
Cheap drawings that bounce at council cost more than good drawings approved first time. Judge a draftsman on local approvals, not just price. Our quotes are fixed and our drawing sets are built around Northern Beaches Council's requirements.
Call Phil on 0414 978 499 or use the contact form. After a free site assessment you get a fixed-price quote covering every stage.
Phil Brown is a Northern Beaches born and bred draftsman and building designer. Since 2016, Northern Beaches Drafting has prepared DA and CDC plans from Manly to Palm Beach and across the Central Coast. Get a free fixed-price quote or call 0414 978 499.
Free, no-obligation fixed-price quotes for drafting, DA and CDC plans across the Northern Beaches.