Central Coast LEP 2022, R5 Large Lot Residential
What can I build in the R5 zone on the Central Coast?
R5 Large Lot Residential is housing on bigger blocks in a rural setting. Type your address to see the zone and the maps that limit your block.
What housing is permitted in the R5 zone?
| Can I build | In the R5 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) | No, prohibited in this zone |
| Apartments (residential flat building) | No, prohibited in this zone |
What you can build here
Permitted without consent
- Home occupations
Permitted with consent
- Dwelling houses
- Dual occupancies
- Secondary dwellings
- Bed and breakfast accommodation
- Group homes
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 R5 zone for?
R5 provides residential housing in a rural setting while protecting environmentally sensitive locations and scenic quality. Its other objectives are practical: large lots should not get in the way of future urban growth, development should not put unreasonable demand on public services, and conflict with neighbouring zones should be kept down.
Can I build a house, dual occupancy or granny flat in R5?
Yes. R5 permits dwelling houses, dual occupancies, granny flats and bed and breakfast accommodation with consent. Townhouses, attached dwellings, apartments and shop top housing are prohibited. The table below shows the housing types for this zone.
A granny flat can be the greater of 60 square metres or 30% of the main house's floor area under clause 5.4(9), so on a large rural home it can be well over 60 square metres.
What else limits what I can build in R5?
The minimum lot size, height and floor space ratio vary lot by lot on the LEP maps, and the Site Checker reads them for your block. Then check the hazards.
- Bushfire. Many large lots back onto bushland. A bush fire prone block needs a BAL assessment, and at BAL 40 or BAL FZ the complying development pathway closes.
- Vegetation and waterways. The report flags terrestrial biodiversity and riparian land mapping, which can shape where a house and its driveway can go.
- Flood. If a creek crosses the lot, check the flood mapping even where the house site looks high.
- Slope. A steep site adds cost to the footings and the driveway, and a steep driveway can fail council's gradient rules.
What should I check before buying an R5 block?
Services first. Find out whether the lot is connected to sewer and town water, or whether you will need an onsite wastewater system and tanks, and get quotes before you exchange. Then pull the deposited plan and any covenants, which can dictate materials or single storey construction.
My checklist for buying land on the Central Coast covers the rest. For the design guides see new homes and granny flats, or book a free chat about your block.
Questions people ask
Can I build a granny flat in the R5 zone?
Yes. Secondary dwellings are permitted with consent in R5 under the Central Coast LEP 2022. Clause 5.4(9) allows the greater of 60 square metres or 30% of the floor area of the main house, not counting parking.
Can I build a dual occupancy in R5?
Yes, dual occupancies are permitted with consent in R5. The LEP's 550 and 700 square metre dual occupancy lot sizes in clause 4.1B only name the R1, R2 and R3 zones, so in R5 the lot size map and the Central Coast DCP do the work.
Can I build townhouses in R5?
No. The Central Coast LEP 2022 prohibits multi dwelling housing, attached dwellings, residential flat buildings and shop top housing in R5.