Reference Data · New South Wales
The Hills Shire DCP: the dwelling controls, as published.
6 controls for low-density residential — dwelling houses, taken from The Hills Development Control Plan (2012) — Part B Section 2: Residential. 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 6 controls The Hills Shire 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.
The Hills Shire — published dwelling controls
| Control | Published value | Qualifier |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary street setback | 4 m | — |
| Side setback | 0.9 m | — |
| Rear setback | 4 m | — |
| Site coverage | 60% | — |
| Landscaped area | 40% | — |
| Private open space | 80 m² | — |
Source: The Hills Development Control Plan (2012) — Part B Section 2: Residential. Clauses: 2.14 Dwellings — 2.14.1 Building Setbacks; 2.14.2 Site Coverage; 2.14.4 Private Open Space; 2.14.5 Landscaping and Open Space. Open the source DCP.
Qualifications that change how these read
- Site coverage 60% is the standard residential-zone (incl. R2) maximum; E4 Environmental Living and land pink-shaded on Map Sheets 1-42 = 30% (map-dependent) (2.14.2(a)).
- Within the 60% coverage cap, the dwelling building footprint must be no more than 45% of the site (except pink-shaded land) (2.14.2(b)).
- Landscaped/naturally-vegetated area minimum = 40% of total site area; E4 Environmental Living = 70% (2.14.5(b)). Excludes paved/built-upon area (driveways, tennis courts, patios/decks, outbuildings, pools) — not explicitly labelled deep-soil.
- Private open space = 20% of lot area OR 80 m2, whichever is greater, located behind the front building line and able to contain a 6 m x 4 m rectangle (2.14.4(a),(b)); pos_min_sqm=80 is the fixed floor of that formula.
- Side boundary setback: wall 0.9 m / eave 0.675 m for 1-2 storey; wall 1.5 m / eave 1.175 m for 3 storey (2.14.1(g)).
- Rear boundary setback: 4 m for single-storey element, 6 m for 2-3 storey elements (2.14.1(h)); varies by number of storeys, not frontage. Battleaxe lots: setback to 3 sides only, 4 m (single storey) / 6 m (2-3 storey) (2.14.1(i)).
- Garage setback = per front/side setbacks or 5.5 m, whichever is greater (2.14.1(e)).
- Max dwelling width at building line: 80% of lot width if lot <=18 m, 75% if >18 m (2.14.1(f)).
- Document version: 'In Force 7 December 2018' (The Hills DCP 2012, Part B Section 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 The Hills Shire before making decisions.
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