What are the Complying Development Standards under the NSW Codes SEPP for Dwelling Houses?

The table below summarises key development controls for residential complying developments for dwelling houses in NSW.

All standards are drawn from the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (Codes SEPP), specifically the General Housing Code (for houses).

Local LEP/DCP standards are overridden by these state controls for complying development.

Development Type	Dwelling House (single dwelling)
Permissible Zones	R1, R2, R3, R4, RU5 zones
Min. Lot Size	200sqm (absolute minimum for any complying development under Housing Code). (No specific larger minimum for a single dwelling; must also satisfy min. lot size in LEP if any for dwelling houses.)
Min. Lot Width	6 m at building line (absolute minimum). No specific wider requirement for a single house beyond meeting setback and envelope controls.
Max. Number of Dwellings	1 dwelling house per lot (excluding a secondary dwelling).
Max. Building Height	8.5 m measured from existing ground level (max. ~2 storeys). Chimneys, antennae etc. excepted per Code.
Max. Number of Storeys	2 storeys maximum (Housing Code does not count an attic within roof as a storey). Basements not counted as a storey if underground.
Maximum Gross Floor Area (GFA) (All buildings on the lot)	Variable by lot size:  For small lots, a high percentage is allowed, scaling down on larger lots. Examples: 200–250 m² lot: max GFA = 78% of lot area; >250–300 m²: 75% of lot area. For mid-size lots, a formula applies: e.g. >300–350 m² lot: 235 m² max; >350–450 m²: 25% of lot area + 150 m²; >450–560 m²: 290 m²; >560–600 m²: 25% of lot + 150 m²; >600–740 m²: 335 m²; >740–900 m²: 25% + 150 m²; >900–920 m²: 380 m²; >920–1000 m²: 25% + 150 m²; >1000 m²: 400 m² (absolute cap). Note: One car space is excluded from GFA calculations.
Site Coverage / Landscaped Area	A minimum portion of the site must be landscaped (soft soil): 10%–45% depending on lot size. Up to 300 m² lot: 10% min. landscaped; 300–450 m²: 15%; 450–600 m²: 20%; 600–900 m²: 30%; 900–1500 m²: 40%; >1500 m²: 45%. Landscaped areas must have min 1.5 m width.
Front Setback (Primary road)	Must match the contextual setback: not less than the average setback of the two nearest dwelling houses on the same side of the street (within 40 m). If no such neighbours within 40 m, a default minimum applies based on lot size: 200–300 m² lot: 3 m min; >300–900 m²: 4.5 m; >900–1500 m²: 6.5 m; >1500 m²: 10 m. (On corner lots, secondary street frontage has its own minimum: 2 m for lots up to 600 m², 3 m for 600–1500 m², 5 m for >1500 m².)
Side Setbacks (Boundary clearance)	Standard lots:  Minimum 0.9 m for walls up to 4.5 m high. For two-storey portions, the setback increases with height: roughly, side setback = 0.9 m + [(building height – 4.5 m) ÷ 4]. (E.g. ~1.5 m side setback at 7 m height in the example). Narrow lot provisions:  If lot width < 6 m or for attached garages, built-to-boundary walls may be allowed on one side for single-storey portions by Code (with neighbour agreement).
Rear Setback	Varies with lot size and building height. Generally, a single-storey rear projection (≤4.5 m high) can be as close as 3 m from the rear boundary. Two-storey portions (>4.5 m high) typically require a larger rear setback (often ~6 m on average-sized lots). The Housing Code uses a sliding scale: e.g. on lots >900 m², a 2-storey portion needs 8–12 m rear setback. On very large lots (>1500 m²), up to 15 m rear setback for 2-storey parts may apply. If the lot backs onto a laneway, the dwelling may be built to within 0.9 m of the rear lane (or nil setback for up to 50% of the rear width).
Private Open Space (Principal private open space for each dwelling)	The dwelling house must have at least one area of principal private open space at ground level: ≥24 m² with a minimum 3 m length & width (for lots >300 m²). On small lots ≤300 m², a 16 sqm area may suffice. This open space must be a contiguous flat area (slope <1:50) directly accessible from a main living area (e.g. rear patio or deck).
Car Parking	Not explicitly mandated by the Housing Code for a single dwelling, but typically one off-street parking space (garage or carport) is provided. (The Code excludes one parking space from floor area calculations, implicitly acknowledging at least one space.) If no garage/car space is proposed, it can still be complying development. there is no minimum in the SEPP for a standalone house.
Additional Design Rules / Notes	Building articulation & design:  The house must comply with the Housing Code’s design criteria (e.g. front facade articulation zone of 1.5 m for porches/bay windows, etc., and max blank wall lengths) ensuring it isn’t a featureless box. Basements: Allowed as long as the building stays under 8.5m from natural ground and excavation/fill limits are met. Attics: An attic within the roof is permitted and not counted as a storey (dormer windows etc. are allowed in the roof design). Ancillary development: Garages, sheds, pools, decks, rainwater tanks, etc., can be included in the CDC if they meet the Code standards (e.g. max shed 20 m², etc.). Heritage and exclusions: Complying development is not permitted on heritage items or in heritage conservation areas, environmentally sensitive land, etc. (General requirements in Codes SEPP Part 1 apply).