In NSW, zoning permits housing types and development restrictions.
R1 (General Residential)
Detached homes, duplexes, and small apartment buildings, often with private yards and gardens.
R2 (Low Density Residential)
Focused on single-family homes, featuring larger lot sizes, providing a suburban lifestyle with more space between properties and a quieter environment.
R3 (Medium Density Residential)
Supporting townhouses, villas, and residential flat buildings and supportive non-residential uses like neighbourhood shops.
R4 (High-Density Residential)
Aimed at high-density living, including high-rise apartments and dense housing developments, typically located near transport hubs, shops, and urban centres.
Key Changes Under the Low & Mid-Rise Housing Policy:
Policy Implementation
Effective from 28 February 2025, the policy permits the development of dual occupancies, terraces, townhouses, and residential flat buildings within 800 metres (approximately a 10-minute walk) of 171 town centres and train stations across metropolitan Sydney, the Central Coast, Illawarra-Shoalhaven, and Hunter regions.
Zoning Adjustments
The policy removes previous restrictions on developing certain housing types in various residential zones. Specifically, it allows terraces, townhouses, and low-rise residential flat buildings in R1 and R2 zones, and medium-rise residential flat buildings in R3 and R4 zones.
