Planning controls for City of Sydney
Full SEPP, LEP, and DCP controls for any City of Sydney address — setbacks, parking, height, floor space ratio, landscaping, and heritage with clause citations. Free. Also check granny flat eligibility and flood risk for any City of Sydney address.
Data sources
SEPP + LEP + DCP
Three tiers of controls
DCP controls
10,065 provisions
Full provision text
Coverage
All NSW
LEP + SEPP for every address
Check planning controls for your City of Sydney property
Enter any City of Sydney address to see the full SEPP, LEP, and DCP controls with clause citations.
Open Planning Controls ToolDCP controls in City of Sydney by topic
City of Sydney Council's Development Control Plan contains 10,065 structured provisions across 29 topics. Enter an address above to see which controls apply to a specific property.
Signage
1396# 6.2 B – Facades to wide streets Permissible sign types
Heritage
1213# 3.9.1 (4) Heritage Impact Statements A heritage impact statement is to address:
Height
843# Legend J J - Buildings over 6 storeys
Building form
685# 2.10.3 (k) (k) Retail is to be limited in scale to support nearby planned centres.
Residential development
595# 5.5.7 3 Provisions (3) Ashmore is to be a predominantly residential neighbourhood.
Setbacks
5891. Primary building setback, clear full height - 3m
Access
540# 6.3.30.2 (1) Vehicular access is to be from Busby Lane.
Commercial
524# 6.3.16.1 (3) Retail or commercial uses are to activate the street.
Parking
451# 6.1.4.3 Parking and Vehicular Access (5) Above ground parking is not permitted.
Landscaping
402# Figure 6.38 2. Landscape planting area - min. 3m
Open space
2963. Ground floor private open space deck - min. 1.5m
Solar access
264# 12.1 (b) For daylight (or SVF): the factors are averaged and the single resultant values compared.
Safety
264# 11.5 A road safety report is to consider and address:
Precinct-specific
258# 2.13.13 Principles Development in Botany Road Precinct is to:
Building design
222# 3.10.1 (11) Provision Work to the facade is to:
General controls
217# 10.1 Introduction The purpose of this schedule is to:
Plus 13 more topics. Enter an address to see all controls.
What the planning controls assessment covers
SEPP controls
State-level policies including Housing SEPP 2021, Transport & Infrastructure, and Coastal Management.
LEP controls
Zoning, height of buildings, floor space ratio, minimum lot size, heritage, and additional permitted uses.
DCP controls
Council-specific setbacks, parking rates, landscaping requirements, private open space, and design controls.
Spatial overlays
Flood, bushfire, heritage, acid sulfate soils, biodiversity, and other mapped constraints from the NSW Planning Portal.
Planning controls in City of Sydney — common questions
What planning controls apply in the City of Sydney?
City of Sydney properties are governed by the Sydney LEP 2012 and Sydney DCP 2012. Controls cover height, FSR, setbacks, parking, design excellence, heritage, and active frontage requirements. The CBD and surrounds have some of NSW's most detailed planning controls.
What design excellence requirements apply in the City of Sydney?
Buildings over a certain height in the City of Sydney require a design excellence process including a competitive design alternatives process. Requirements vary by precinct and building height.
What heritage controls apply in the City of Sydney?
The City of Sydney has extensive heritage conservation areas across Surry Hills, Paddington, Pyrmont, Glebe, and The Rocks. Heritage items and HCAs are mapped in the LEP with detailed DCP controls for each area.
Other property checks for City of Sydney
Also check nearby councils
Planning controls are sourced live from the NSW Planning Portal, PostGIS spatial overlays, and structured DCP provisions. Controls shown are indicative — always verify with the relevant council or a registered town planner before making development decisions.