Reference Data · New South Wales
Lake Macquarie DCP: the dwelling controls, as published.
7 controls for low-density residential — dwelling houses, taken from Lake Macquarie DCP 2014 (Revision 39) — Part 3: Development within Residential Zones. 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 7 controls Lake Macquarie 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.
Lake Macquarie, City of — published dwelling controls
| Control | Published value | Qualifier |
|---|---|---|
| Front setback | 4 m | Front setback must be 4m or more, OR between the setback of the two nearest properties (prevailing line, Figure 2). Where there are no existing/approved dwellings within 40m of the lot, min 4m from the front boundary. |
| Secondary street setback | 2 m | — |
| Side setback | 0.9 m | — |
| Rear setback | 3 m | — |
| Site coverage | 50% | — |
| Landscaped area | 20% ≤600 m² → 25% ≤900 m² → 35% ≤1500 m² → 45% | — |
| Private open space | 24 m² | — |
Source: Lake Macquarie DCP 2014 (Revision 39) — Part 3: Development within Residential Zones. Clauses: 3.2 Street Setback, 3.3 Side Setback, 3.4 Rear Setback, 3.5 Site Coverage, 4.2 Landscaped Area, 4.4 Principal Private Open Space. Open the source DCP.
Qualifications that change how these read
- Scope: Part 3 applies to R1 General Residential, R2 Low Density Residential and R3 Medium Density Residential zones; a standard dwelling house in R2 is governed by these controls (specific land uses e.g. dual occupancy, multi-dwelling, housing on small/narrow lots have additional Part 9 controls).
- Side setback is height-tiered (R2/R3): min 0.9m (900mm) for building height up to 4.5m; min 1.5m for height over 4.5m but less than 3 storeys; min 3m for 3 storeys or more. Recorded side_setback_m=0.9 for the standard single-storey/up-to-4.5m dwelling case.
- Rear setback is height-tiered (R2/R3), NOT frontage-tiered: min 3m for buildings up to 4.5m; min 6m for over 4.5m but less than 3 storeys; min 9m for 3 storeys or more. Recorded rear_setback_m=3 for the standard up-to-4.5m case.
- Front setback (3.2): entry features, porticos, porches, balconies, decks, verandahs, bay windows, eaves and awnings may encroach up to 1.5m into the front setback (not covering more than 50% of building width). Setbacks may be reduced on flood/sea-level-rise-vulnerable sites.
- Landscaped area (4.2) is 4-tiered and increases with lot area: <600m2 = 20%; 600-900m2 = 25%; >900m2 = 35%; >1500m2 = 45%. Minimum width of 2m required for an area to count. Not titled 'deep soil' (labelled 'landscaped area'), though objectives reference pervious surfaces/stormwater infiltration and rear deep-soil tree planting.
- Principal private open space (4.4): min area 24m2, min dimension 4m, grade less than 1:50. Landscaped area is in addition to the POS requirement. No small-site reduced minimum stated.
- Site coverage (3.5): flat 50% max including ancillary development; basements, eaves, unenclosed balconies/decks/pergolas and street-adjoining awnings are excluded from the calculation.
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 Lake Macquarie, City of before making decisions.
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