What can I build in my zone?
Every block in NSW sits in a zone set by the council's Local Environmental Plan, and the zone is the first thing that decides what you can build. The seven zones below cover almost every house block in the state.
Each zone page explains what the state requires councils to allow, what the council decides for itself, and what changed in the 2024 and 2025 housing reforms. Type your address below to find your block's zone first.
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| Zone | What it is for |
|---|---|
| R1 General Residential | A mix of housing on the same streets, from houses to apartments. |
| R2 Low Density Residential | Houses and granny flats, and duplexes on most R2 land since July 2024. |
| R3 Medium Density Residential | Townhouses, terraces and manor houses, and apartments near stations. |
| R4 High Density Residential | Apartment buildings and shop top housing. |
| R5 Large Lot Residential | Houses on large blocks in a rural setting. |
| RU5 Village | Country villages, where houses, shops and halls share the streets. |
| C4 Environmental Living | Low impact housing in bushland, foreshore and scenic areas. |
What do the zone letters mean?
The letters give the zone's family and the number picks the zone within it. R is residential (R1 to R5), RU is rural (RU1 to RU6, with RU5 for villages), C is conservation (C1 to C4, called E1 to E4 until they were renamed), E is employment (E1 Local Centre to E5 Heavy Industrial, since 2023), MU1 is mixed use, SP is special purpose such as infrastructure, RE is recreation and W is waterways. Every council uses the same codes because every LEP is built on the state's Standard Instrument.
Is what I can build in my zone the same everywhere in NSW?
No. The Standard Instrument sets each zone's objectives and a short list of uses every council must permit, and each council adds its own on top, so R2 in one council can allow things R2 in the next council doesn't. State policies such as the Housing SEPP then add more, for example duplexes in R2. To see your council's full list, open its Local Environmental Plan on NSW legislation, go to Part 2 and find the zone in the Land Use Table. The Planning Portal Spatial Viewer shows the zone and the other maps for a single lot.
What does permitted with consent mean?
It means you can apply to build it, and it needs approval before you start: a development application to the council, or a complying development certificate where a state code covers the project. Permitted without consent means no planning approval is needed for the use itself, and prohibited means it can't be approved in that zone at all. Permitted with consent is not a promise of approval, because the design still has to meet the height, floor space ratio, lot size and other controls.
What if my zone isn't listed here?
The pages here cover the zones where most houses are built. If your block is in another zone, such as a rural, employment or special purpose zone, the same approach works: find the zone in your council's Land Use Table and read its objectives and the permitted lists. The zoning guide explains how.
Where does this information come from?
Permitted uses differ by council LEP, so check your council's land use table before you rely on anything here. This page is general information about NSW planning law, not advice about your block. It is not a section 10.7 planning certificate, and it does not replace your council, your certifier, legal advice or your own designer.