Reference Data · New South Wales
North Sydney DCP: the dwelling controls, as published.
4 controls for low-density residential — dwelling houses, taken from North Sydney Development Control Plan 2025 — Part E, Section 1: Residential Development. 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 4 controls North Sydney 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.
North Sydney Council — published dwelling controls
| Control | Published value | Qualifier |
|---|---|---|
| Side setback | 0.9 m | — |
| Site coverage | 60% ≤230 m² → 50% ≤500 m² → 40% ≤750 m² → 35% ≤1000 m² → 30% | — |
| Landscaped area | 20% ≤230 m² → 30% ≤500 m² → 40% ≤750 m² → 45% ≤1000 m² → 50% | — |
| Private open space | 40 m² | — |
Source: North Sydney Development Control Plan 2025 — Part E, Section 1: Residential Development. Clauses: 1.3.5 Setbacks (P1 Front; P2 & Table E-1.2 Side; P5 Rear; P7 Laneways); 1.4.6 Site Coverage (P1 & Table E-1.5); 1.4.7 Landscape Area (P1 & Table E-1.6); 1.4.8 Private and Communal Open Space (P1 & Table E-1.7). Open the source DCP.
Qualifications that change how these read
- CURRENT DCP: North Sydney DCP 2025 came into effect 22 Sep 2025 and repeals NSDCP 2013.
- Low-density zone in North Sydney LEP = R2 Low Density Residential. Site-coverage, landscaped-area and POS tables are keyed by DEVELOPMENT TYPE (Detached/Semi-detached/Attached dwelling, incl. any secondary dwelling) and lot size, NOT by zone — so they apply to a dwelling house in R2 (and R3/R4).
- Side setback (Table E-1.2, R2 Low Density Residential, dwelling houses) is tiered by storey: 900mm (0.9m) for 1st storey up to 4m; 1.5m for 2nd storey up to 7m; 2.5m for 3rd storey or higher (>7m). side_setback_m records the ground/1st-storey minimum 0.9m.
- Rear setback for a dwelling house in R2 is character/merit-based (match adjoining properties, or per the relevant Planning Area Character Statement / Locality Area provisions in Part F) — no numeric value stated (cl. 1.3.5 P5). The numeric 1.5m rear setback applies only to the R4 High Density zone (P6).
- Laneways: all buildings and structures must be setback at least 1.2m from a laneway (cl. 1.3.5 P7); this setback is to be landscaped (cl. 1.3.3).
- Private open space (Table E-1.7) is tiered by lot size, ground-level m2 per dwelling: 0–<230 = 40; 230–<500 = 40; 500–<750 = 50; 750–<1000 = 50; 1000+ = 70. pos_min_sqm records the base minimum (40m2). POS must have a minimum dimension of 4m at ground level (cl. 1.4.8 P3).
- Table E-1.6 also sets an 'Un-Built Upon Area (max)' of 20% for every dwelling-house lot tier, alongside the Landscaped Area (min) figures recorded here.
- Landscaped area = parts of the site used for growing plants/grasses/trees, excluding buildings/structures/hard-paved areas; landscaping above a basement or on a roof does NOT count (cl. 1.4.7 P2). Not labelled 'deep soil'.
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 North Sydney Council before making decisions.
Check a specific address in North Sydney
These are the council-wide numbers. Zone, overlays and the consent triggers that actually apply depend on the parcel — screen one free, no signup.
Screen an address →Compare across the state: every codified NSW council DCP in one table · all reference data