Central Coast LEP 2022, R1 General Residential
What can I build in the R1 zone on the Central Coast?
R1 General Residential is the most flexible residential zone on the Central Coast. Type your address to see the zone and the maps that limit your block.
What housing is permitted in the R1 zone?
| Can I build | In the R1 zone |
|---|---|
| A house | Yes, with development consent |
| A granny flat (secondary dwelling) | Yes, with development consent |
| A duplex (dual occupancy) | Yes, with development consent |
| Townhouses or villas (multi dwelling housing) | Yes, with development consent |
| Apartments (residential flat building) | Yes, with development consent |
What you can build here
Permitted without consent
- Home occupations
- Recreation areas
Permitted with consent
- Dwelling houses
- Dual occupancies
- Secondary dwellings
- Semi-detached dwellings
- Attached dwellings
- Multi dwelling housing
- Residential flat buildings
- Shop top housing
- Boarding houses
- Seniors housing
- Group homes
- Neighbourhood shops
Permitted uses are based on the Central Coast LEP 2022. Other councils' LEPs differ.
What can I build on my block?
Type your address for its zone, height limit, lot size, flood and bushfire maps, all in one free report.
What is the R1 zone for?
R1 is there to meet the community's housing needs with a variety of housing types and densities. The objectives also call for best practice in the design of multi dwelling housing, and for any shops or services to sit comfortably beside the homes around them.
Can I build a duplex, granny flat or townhouses in R1?
Yes to all three, with development consent. R1 permits houses, dual occupancies, granny flats, townhouses, residential flat buildings, shop top housing, boarding houses and seniors housing. The table below shows the housing types for this zone.
The lot size is the first gate. A dual occupancy needs 550 square metres attached or 700 square metres detached under clause 4.1B, and clause 4.1C lets a finished dual occupancy in R1 be split into two lots smaller than the minimum lot size. A granny flat can be up to the greater of 60 square metres or 30% of the floor area of the main house under clause 5.4(9).
What else limits what I can build in R1?
Height, floor space ratio and minimum lot size vary lot by lot across the Central Coast, so two R1 blocks can carry different limits. The Site Checker reads the numbers for yours.
After the maps come the hazards: flood, bushfire, heritage and trees you want to remove. Then the Central Coast DCP sets the setbacks, landscaping, private open space and parking. The DCP and LEP cheat sheet links them all.
What should I check before buying an R1 block?
If you are buying for more than one dwelling, check the width as well as the area. The complying development pathway for a duplex needs a 15 metre frontage, or 12 metres with rear lane access, and a block half a metre short can lose the whole plan. Check the slope, because a dual occupancy is unlikely to be supported on a site steeper than 25%, and look for a sewer main before you design.
My checklist for buying land on the Central Coast runs through the rest. For the design guides, see duplexes, townhouses and apartments, or book a free chat and I will look at your block with you.
Questions people ask
Can I build townhouses in the R1 zone on the Central Coast?
Yes. Multi dwelling housing, which is what the LEP calls townhouses, is permitted with consent in R1 under the Central Coast LEP 2022. Your lot size, height limit and the DCP then decide how many will fit.
How big does my block need to be for a duplex in R1?
Clause 4.1B of the Central Coast LEP 2022 sets 550 square metres for an attached dual occupancy and 700 square metres for a detached one in the R1, R2 and R3 zones.
Can I subdivide my R1 block into small lots?
Clause 4.1D allows a single consent to subdivide R1 land into 5 or more lots smaller than the minimum lot size, as long as the same application builds a house on each lot. Council weighs height, overshadowing, access and parking in deciding it.