Central Coast LEP 2022, RU2 Rural Landscape
What can I build in the RU2 zone on the Central Coast?
RU2 Rural Landscape is rural land where the landscape matters as much as the farming, and whether you can build a house depends on the lot. Type your address to see the zone and the maps that limit your block.
What housing is permitted in the RU2 zone?
| Can I build | In the RU2 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
- Extensive agriculture
- Home occupations
- Recreation areas
Permitted with consent
- Dwelling houses
- Dual occupancies
- Secondary dwellings
- Bed and breakfast accommodation
- Farm stay accommodation
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 RU2 zone for?
RU2 is there to keep sustainable primary production going and to maintain the rural landscape character of the land. It provides for compatible uses such as extensive agriculture, and a limited range of tourist and recreational uses that suit the rural character.
Can I build a house on RU2 land?
Only on a lot that qualifies under clause 4.2B of the Central Coast LEP 2022, which covers RU1, RU2, RU6 and C3 land. The main tests are that the lot is at least the minimum lot size shown on the map, or that it was created before the plan commenced and a house was permissible on it immediately before. Clause 4.2C also stops a house on a lot created by closing a road, unless that lot meets the minimum lot size.
People call this a dwelling entitlement, and it is the first thing I check on any rural block. The minimum lot size varies lot by lot on the LEP maps, so read the number for your lot rather than a neighbour's. A section 10.7 planning certificate states whether a development standard fixes minimum land dimensions for a house on the lot, and council can confirm the rest.
What else can I build on RU2 land?
With consent, RU2 permits dual occupancies, granny flats, bed and breakfast accommodation and farm stay accommodation. Townhouses, attached dwellings, apartments and shop top housing are prohibited. The table below shows the housing types for this zone.
The Central Coast DCP sets different dual occupancy requirements in RU2 from the residential zones, so read that chapter through my DCP and LEP cheat sheet. A farm stay is capped at 5 guest bedrooms by clause 5.4(5), and a bed and breakfast at 5 bedrooms by clause 5.4(1).
What should I check before buying RU2 land?
After the entitlement, the hazards. Rural land is often bush fire prone, creeks and valleys can carry flood mapping, and the Site Checker flags biodiversity, riparian land and drinking water catchment mapping, each of which can move the house site. Check the slope, road access, power and how you will handle water and wastewater, and whether the land sits in a mine subsidence district.
For the design guide see new homes, or book a free chat and I will look at the land with you.
Questions people ask
Can I build a house on RU2 land on the Central Coast?
Dwelling houses are permitted with consent in RU2, but clause 4.2B of the Central Coast LEP 2022 only allows one on certain lots, such as a lot at least the minimum lot size on the map or a lot where a house was permissible before the plan commenced.
Can I build a dual occupancy on RU2 land?
Yes, with consent, on a lot that passes the clause 4.2B test. The Central Coast DCP sets different dual occupancy requirements in RU2 from the residential zones, so read that chapter before you design.
How big can a granny flat be on RU2 land?
Clause 5.5 of the Central Coast LEP 2022 allows a secondary dwelling in a rural zone of up to the greater of 60 square metres or 30% of the floor area of the main house, not counting parking.