Reference Data · New South Wales
Hilltops DCP: the dwelling controls, as published.
5 controls for low-density residential — dwelling houses, taken from Hilltops Development Control Plan 2025 — Chapter 2 Zone Based Controls, Section 2.2 / 2.2A Single Residential Development (R1 General Residential, R2 Low Density Residential, R5 Large Lot Residential, MU1). As at 2026-08-05.
NSW has no statewide dwelling setback or site-coverage standard. The LEP sets zone, height and FSR; the numbers that shape a build sit in each council's DCP. Below are the 5 controls Hilltops publishes numerically. Anything its DCP assesses on merit rather than a fixed number is simply absent from this table — it is not a zero, and it is not a permission.
Hilltops Council — published dwelling controls
| Control | Published value | Qualifier |
|---|---|---|
| Front setback | 6 m | R1 General Residential and R2 Low Density Residential zones: not less than 6m from the primary street frontage (ASR4.1). Where adjoining dwellings have differing setbacks, use the average of those setbacks. |
| Secondary street setback | 3 m | — |
| Side setback | 3 m | — |
| Rear setback | 3 m | — |
| Landscaped area | 40% | deep-soil requirement applies |
Source: Hilltops Development Control Plan 2025 — Chapter 2 Zone Based Controls, Section 2.2 / 2.2A Single Residential Development (R1 General Residential, R2 Low Density Residential, R5 Large Lot Residential, MU1). Clauses: ASR4.1 (front + secondary street setback table); ASR5.1 (side/rear setback, single & two storey); ASR7.1 (height 8.5m/2 storeys); ASR8.1–8.2 (permeable area 40%, forward-of-setback paving); ASR9.1–9.3 (private open space). Open the source DCP.
Qualifications that change how these read
- Applies to Section 2.2A Single Residential Development, which explicitly covers R1 General Residential and R2 Low Density Residential (plus R5 and MU1) for new dwellings and alterations/additions.
- Side & rear setback (R1/R2), single-storey dwellings = 3m (ASR5.1a); a lesser setback may be accepted on merit where windows are offset to achieve reasonable privacy to adjoining development.
- Two-storey dwellings (R1/R2): the UPPER LEVEL is set back from side/rear boundaries by a FORMULA — 3m plus 0.3m for every metre of height over 3.6m up to 6.9m, plus 1m for every metre of height over 6.9m (ASR5.1b). Recorded as a note, not a flat value.
- No site-coverage percentage is specified for a single dwelling house. The 40% and 60% 'gross building area' site-coverage figures elsewhere in the DCP apply to dual-occupancy / multi-dwelling development (ASM2.1, AMD9.3), NOT single dwellings.
- landscaped_flat_pct = 40 records ASR8.1 'Permeable areas are at least 40% of the site' (permeable/deep-soil style control under PSR8 minimise-hardstand). Also ASR8.2: max 30% of the area forward of the front building setback may be paving/driveways.
- Private open space: ASR9.1 requires POS adjoining living rooms and ASR9.3 requires ≥50% of the minimum required secluded POS to receive sun 9am–3pm 21 June, but NO numeric minimum POS area (sqm) is stated for single dwellings — pos_min_sqm null.
- Max height: 2 storeys above natural ground level OR 8.5m above existing ground level, whichever is lesser (ASR7.1).
- R5 Large Lot Residential (not the low-density case): front 10m / secondary 6m, side & rear 10m (ASR4.1, ASR5.2).
How this was compiled, and how far to trust it
These values were machine-extracted from the source DCP and have not been independently re-checked. Treat them as screening grade: good enough to compare councils and to know which questions to ask, not a substitute for reading the clause before you rely on it. This is a different and lower tier of confidence than our Victorian zone schedules, which are read and verified from the source planning scheme by a person. We do not present the two as equivalent.
A council's DCP can be amended at any time and this page reflects the document as at 2026-08-05. Where a control is absent above, the DCP either sets no number or assesses that parameter on merit.
This information is provided for research and preliminary screening only. It does not constitute professional planning, legal or architectural advice. Always verify with Hilltops Council before making decisions.
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