Under the NSW Housing Code, a new house or extension approved as complying development must leave a minimum share of the lot as landscaped area: 10% for lots of 200 to 300 square metres, 15% over 300 to 450, 20% over 450 to 600, 30% over 600 to 900, 40% over 900 to 1,500 and 45% over 1,500 square metres. Those percentages are in clause 3.13 of State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008. Landscaped areas must be at least 1.5 metres wide, at least half of the required landscaped area must be behind the building line, and a share of the front yard must be landscaped: 25% on lots up to 18 metres wide and 50% on wider lots. Together with the floor area limit in clause 3.9, landscaped area is what stops a house filling the lot, and on mid-sized lots it is often the control that shapes the design.
Key takeaways
- Minimum landscaped area under clause 3.13 rises with lot size, from 10% (lots up to 300 square metres) to 45% (lots over 1,500 square metres).
- Landscaped area must be at least 1.5 metres wide to count.
- At least 50% of the required landscaped area must be located behind the building line to the primary road.
- Of the area forward of the building line, 25% must be landscaped on lots up to 18 metres wide, and 50% on wider lots.
- Principal private open space is also required: 16 square metres on lots 6 to 10 metres wide and 24 square metres on wider lots.
Who this is for: home owners and designers planning a new house, knock-down rebuild or extension under a complying development certificate in NSW, who need to know how much of the lot must stay landscaped.
How much landscaped area does my lot need?
The Department’s Guide to Complying Development (August 2023) summarises the clause 3.13 standard:
| Lot area | Minimum landscaped area | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 200 to 300 sqm | 10% of lot area | 280 sqm lot: 28 sqm |
| Over 300 to 450 sqm | 15% | 450 sqm lot: 67.5 sqm |
| Over 450 to 600 sqm | 20% | 560 sqm lot: 112 sqm |
| Over 600 to 900 sqm | 30% | 700 sqm lot: 210 sqm |
| Over 900 to 1,500 sqm | 40% | 1,000 sqm lot: 400 sqm |
| Over 1,500 sqm | 45% | 2,000 sqm lot: 900 sqm |
Note the steps. A lot just over 600 square metres needs 30% (over 180 square metres), while a 600 square metre lot needs 20% (120 square metres). On lots around those boundaries, the exact deposited plan area matters.
What counts as landscaped area?
Landscaped area is defined in clause 1.5 of the Codes SEPP. In practical terms it is the part of the lot used for growing plants, grasses and trees, not occupied by buildings, driveways, paving or hard surfaces. The Housing Code then adds dimensional rules: each part counted must be at least 1.5 metres wide. A 900 millimetre strip of garden beside the house does not count, however many plants it has.
The common mistakes are counting the side passage, counting paved alfresco areas or artificial turf, and forgetting the driveway, which is often the largest hard surface forward of the building line.
Front yard and rear yard rules
Clause 3.13 also controls where the landscaping goes:
- Behind the building line: at least 50% of the required landscaped area must be located behind the building line to the primary road.
- Forward of the building line: on lots up to 18 metres wide, 25% of the area forward of the building line must be landscaped; on lots wider than 18 metres, 50%.
- Private open space: a principal private open space of 16 square metres (lots 6 to 10 metres wide) or 24 square metres (wider lots), with the detailed dimension and access requirements in the code.
On a narrow lot with a double garage and a wide driveway, the 25% front landscaping requirement can be the reason the garage has to become a single garage.
How landscaped area interacts with floor area and setbacks
Landscaped area is a ground-level control, and floor area is a whole-building control. On a 700 square metre lot the maximum gross floor area under clause 3.9 is 335 square metres, while 210 square metres must be landscaped. A single storey house of 335 square metres, plus a driveway, paths and an alfresco, can squeeze the landscaping below the minimum, which is why many designs on these lots go to two storeys or reduce paved areas. Our CDC calculator shows the landscaped area and floor area side by side for your lot.
Checking your design for clause 3.13
- Confirm the lot area from the deposited plan (excluding the access handle on a battle-axe lot).
- Calculate the minimum landscaped area for the band.
- On the site plan, shade only areas at least 1.5 metres wide that are soft landscaping.
- Check at least half of the required area is behind the building line.
- Check the front yard percentage (25% or 50%) is met after the driveway and paths.
- Locate and dimension the principal private open space.
Definitions
- Landscaped area
- Part of a lot used for growing plants, grasses and trees, as defined in clause 1.5 of the Codes SEPP; the Housing Code requires it to be at least 1.5 metres wide.
- Building line
- The line formed by the front of the house facing the primary road, used to divide the front yard from the rest of the lot.
- Principal private open space
- The main outdoor living area of the dwelling, with a minimum area set by lot width.
- Clause 3.13
- The Housing Code clause setting landscaped area and private open space standards.
Frequently asked questions
How much landscaping do I need on a 450 sqm lot for a CDC?
15% of the lot, which is 67.5 square metres, at least 1.5 metres wide, with at least half behind the building line.
Does artificial turf count as landscaped area?
Landscaped area is for growing plants, grasses and trees, so artificial turf and paving are generally not counted. Check the clause 1.5 definition with your certifier.
Does the side passage count as landscaped area?
Only parts at least 1.5 metres wide count under the Housing Code, so a typical 0.9 metre side passage does not.
What if I can’t meet the landscaped area minimum?
The proposal cannot be complying development. Reduce hard surfaces or floor area, or lodge a DA, where the council’s DCP landscaping controls apply instead.
Check your lot’s landscaped area and floor area together in our free CDC calculator, and if the numbers are tight, our pathway advice helps you decide between a CDC and a DA. For a site-specific review, request a fee proposal.
Sources and references
- State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008, clauses 1.5 and 3.13, accessed October 2026
- NSW Department of Planning and Environment, Guide to Complying Development (August 2023), Housing Code development standards, accessed October 2026
- NSW Planning Portal, Housing Code, accessed October 2026
Information disclaimer. This article is general planning information prepared by the URBA Planning Team and is current at the date of publication. It is not planning, legal or financial advice for any specific property. Planning instruments, development control plans, state policies and the National Construction Code are amended regularly and councils interpret them differently; the controls quoted here should be confirmed against the versions in force at the date of lodgement and against the consent authority’s current requirements. Reliance on this article is at the reader’s own risk. URBA Planning, a division of Contrive Consultants Pty Ltd, accepts no liability for loss arising from its use. For advice on a specific site, contact URBA for a fee proposal.