Health facility licensing application timeframes

For complex projects with multi-phased constructions or with unique requirements, including remote locations, please contact the Clinical Regulation Policy and Licensing team at Health.Licensing@sa.gov.au or phone (08) 8226 7100. 

The following timeframes apply for routine alterations and private health facility constructions.

Design approval

Health Facility Licensing – allow for up to 90 days, following receipt of a complete application, to complete design approval assessment.

Applications commenced but not completed will be deleted after 90 days from the last action and the application process will be required to recommence.

Design approval lapses

After design assessment approval is granted, building works must commence within 12 months and be completed within three years (unless otherwise agreed), to ensure the approved design is current against the relevant guidelines and standards which apply. After three years, design approval will lapse.

Request for information

Where further information is requested from the applicant, or changes are made to the submitted application, a review of new information will be made within 28 days (from the last day submitted), and the timeframe for design approval assessment will extend accordingly.

Site inspection

Before ‘approval to use premises’ can be granted, the completed building works/alteration must be inspected.

Applicants are to contact the Clinical Regulation Policy and Licensing team at  Health.Licensing@sa.gov.au or phone (08) 8226 7100 at least four weeks in advance of the proposed inspection date, to ensure that inspectors are available.

A satisfactory site inspection requires that all building works are complete, and all furniture, fixtures and equipment are in place.

Scheduling a site inspection before works are completed, or final commissioning/certification results are available will delay the granting of ‘approval to use premises’.

Project Managers should allow up to 28 days post-inspection to finalise all actions including review of additional information, and written approval of the Minister’s delegate to use the premises.

The premises/alteration may not be used prior to receipt of approval from the Minister’s delegate.

Approval to issue licence submitted to Minister’s delegate

The Minister’s delegate will not grant ‘approval to use premises’ until after a satisfactory site inspection and assessment of commissioning/certification results.