How-To Guides

How Long Does a Shop Fitout Take? A Complete Sydney Guide

A practical guide to Sydney shop fitout timelines, including design, landlord approval, planning, construction, handover and the delays that commonly affect opening dates.

TL;DR A straightforward Sydney shop fitout commonly takes about 10 to 16 weeks from an agreed brief to practical completion. A simple cosmetic refresh may be completed in 4 to 8 weeks , while a full retail fitout with custom joinery, approvals and major service changes may take 16 to 24 weeks . Cafes, restaurants, medical retail, heritage buildings, flagship stores and projects requiring a development application can take 6 to 12 months from initial planning to opening. The construction period is only one part of the programme. Lease review, site investigations, design, landlord approval, planning approval, certification, long-lead procurement, authority connections and final occupation requirements must all be included. Typical Sydney shop fitout timelines The following ranges are useful …