Central Coast LEP 2022, R3 Medium Density Residential
What can I build in the R3 zone on the Central Coast?
R3 Medium Density Residential is where the Central Coast plans for townhouses and small apartment buildings. Type your address to see the zone and the maps that limit your block.
What housing is permitted in the R3 zone?
| Can I build | In the R3 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
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 R3 zone for?
R3 provides for housing in a medium density setting, with a variety of housing types. One objective sets it apart from the other residential zones: council wants to encourage the consolidation of existing lots so that medium density development is well designed, and to avoid leaving a single lot isolated between larger developments.
That objective matters if you own one lot in R3. A neighbour's amalgamation can leave your block stranded, and your own proposal may be asked how it affects the lots beside it.
Can I build townhouses or apartments in R3?
Yes. R3 permits townhouses, residential flat buildings, shop top housing, attached and semi-detached dwellings, boarding houses and seniors housing, as well as houses, dual occupancies and granny flats. The table below shows the housing types for this zone.
A dual occupancy still needs 550 square metres attached or 700 square metres detached under clause 4.1B. An apartment building of at least 3 storeys with at least 4 dwellings is also designed to the state's Apartment Design Guide, which sets its own tests for solar access, natural ventilation and communal open space.
What decides how much I can build in R3?
The maps do. Height, floor space ratio and minimum lot size vary lot by lot on the Central Coast LEP maps, and on a medium density site they decide the yield: how many dwellings fit and how tall they can go. The Site Checker reads the numbers for your block. For apartments, my guide on how to calculate apartment yield takes you from those numbers to a unit count.
Then check the hazards. Flood mapping can lift floor and car park levels, bushfire mapping sets construction standards, and the Central Coast DCP sets setbacks, landscaping and parking.
What should I check before buying an R3 site?
Width, slope, services and the neighbours. A narrow lot limits driveway and parking layouts, a steep one adds cost to every dwelling, and a sewer main can fix where the buildings go. Look at what has been approved on the lots beside you, because it shows what council accepted and whether amalgamation is likely.
For the design guides see townhouses and apartments, or book a free chat and I will look at the site with you.
Questions people ask
Can I build townhouses in the R3 zone?
Yes. Multi dwelling housing, which is what the Central Coast LEP 2022 calls townhouses, is permitted with consent in R3, along with residential flat buildings and shop top housing.
Can I still build a single house in R3?
Yes. Dwelling houses, dual occupancies and granny flats are all permitted with consent in R3. A house on a well located R3 block can leave value on the table, so it is worth knowing what the block could take first.
Can I subdivide a duplex in R3 below the minimum lot size?
Not under clause 4.1C of the Central Coast LEP 2022, which only applies that exception to the R1 and R2 zones. In R3 a subdivision has to meet the minimum lot size shown on the map for your block.