Apartment Kitchen Renovations in Sydney: Strata and Access Planning
In NSW an apartment kitchen renovation needs strata permission. Which approval applies, what the application shows, and how to plan lifts, loading and working hours.
Yes. In NSW you need strata permission before renovating an apartment kitchen: installing or removing cupboards is a minor renovation that needs approval, while work that affects the structure, needs waterproofing, changes the ceiling or needs approval under other laws is a major renovation that needs a special resolution at a general meeting of the owners corporation. Your scheme's by-laws can add more types of work to the minor-renovation list, so check them first, along with the building's rules for access, deliveries and working hours.
This guide covers those approval and access questions for a Sydney apartment, and what to send when you plan an apartment kitchen renovation with H&R Kitchens. It is general information, not legal or strata advice; use the current by-laws, approvals and professional advice for your building and planned work.
Start with the strata renovation process
The NSW Government's strata renovation guidance (opens in new tab) (checked 12 October 2026) sets out three levels of work:
- Cosmetic work, such as painting the interior or laying carpet, does not need approval.
- Minor renovations, which include kitchen renovations such as installing or removing cupboards, need approval from the owners corporation, or from the strata committee where a by-law allows it.
- Major renovations, such as work that affects the structure or outside of the property, needs waterproofing, changes the ceiling or needs approval under other laws, need a special resolution at a general meeting of the owners corporation.
The same page says that if the work will change the structure, such as removing a wall, you must also give the owners corporation 14 days' written notice before work starts. For a minor renovation, the application needs to show the plans of the work, including the dates and times it will be done, and the details and qualifications of the tradespeople; if you are installing flooring, it also needs an acoustic certificate showing sound insulation. Request the building's current by-laws and renovation application information early.
Ask the strata manager or owners corporation:
- what approval is required and who grants it;
- which contractor licences and insurance documents are needed;
- permitted work days and hours;
- loading, parking and lift-booking procedures;
- protection requirements for floors, lifts and common areas;
- waste-removal rules;
- whether a bond or building supervision fee applies;
- which services or walls may be common property.
Keep the written response with the approved work.
Identify service and common-property questions
Cabinet replacement does not automatically mean every service can move. Plumbing stacks, gas, ventilation, fire systems, waterproofing and electrical infrastructure may involve common property or licensed trade work.
If the design proposes a relocated sink, cooktop, rangehood or wall opening, raise those changes early. The NSW Planning Portal renovation guidance (opens in new tab) (checked 12 October 2026) also explains that internal alterations can follow different planning pathways depending on the property and work.
Measure the delivery route
The room is only one set of dimensions. Record or confirm:
- loading-bay and parking limits;
- door and corridor widths;
- goods-lift dimensions and weight limits;
- lift-booking times;
- stairs, turns and overhead obstructions;
- the route from the building entry to the apartment.
Custom cabinetry can be divided into modules planned for that route, but the information must be known before manufacturing. Benchtop slab and join decisions also depend on access.
Design compact storage around daily use
Apartment kitchens often work within fixed walls and services. Prioritise clear preparation surface, drawer-based base storage, full-height storage where it will not crowd the room, and appliance positions with correct ventilation and door clearances.
Our small kitchen storage guide covers drawers, pantries, corners and appliance zones in more detail. The aim is not to pack in the most cabinets; it is to keep everyday items accessible while the room remains easy to cross.
Plan removal and waste
Services are isolated by the applicable licensed trades before removal. The building may restrict noisy work, lift use, skip bins or waste movement. Old cabinetry and renovation waste should follow the approved route and disposal plan, not be left in common areas.
Protection should cover the full path, not just the apartment doorway. Confirm who installs, checks and removes it.
Coordinate neighbours and building management
Provide the required notices and current contact details. If the building requires daily sign-in, lift keys or protection inspections, assign responsibility before work begins.
An orderly programme reduces disruption, but it cannot override the building's conditions. Work with confirmed bookings rather than assuming access will be available on arrival.
Approval comes before manufacturing
Do not rely on an informal conversation where written approval, service consent or a lift booking is required. The cabinetry plan and programme should reflect the conditions that have actually been confirmed.
What to send with your apartment enquiry
When contacting H&R Kitchens about an apartment kitchen renovation, include:
- the suburb and building type;
- photos and approximate dimensions;
- the current appliance and service positions;
- the desired layout changes;
- the strata renovation requirements;
- loading, lift and working-hour information;
- the intended timing.
That lets the first conversation address both the room and the site conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Does every apartment kitchen need strata approval?
Kitchen renovations in strata schemes generally need to follow the scheme's renovation process. The exact approval depends on the work, by-laws and common-property impact, so confirm it with the owners corporation or strata manager.
Can plumbing move in an apartment kitchen?
Possibly, but stacks, slabs, waterproofing and common property can constrain the change. It needs the applicable strata, building and licensed-trade review before the cabinetry is finalised.
Can H&R Kitchens work with lift and loading restrictions?
The delivery and installation can be planned around confirmed conditions. Provide lift dimensions, booking procedures and loading requirements before manufacturing and scheduling.
