Hierarchy of development rules

• About building and development in Woollahra
• Development rules (LEP, DCPs, Planning Proposals etc.)
  • Contributions and levies
  • Environment and BASIX
  • Exempt and complying development
  • Heritage information
  • Undertaking heritage works without consent
  • Hierarchy of development rules
  • Planning principles
  • Requests for planning proposals
  • Residential apartment development
• Objections and comments
• Submit a DA
• Assessing and determining DAs
• Major Development Applications (DAs)
• Once your development is approved (building certification)
• Asbestos safety
• Fire safety
• Private swimming pools and spas
• Window and balcony safety
• Building and development forms

Levels of development rules

Development rules have a hierarchy, starting with legislation and then stepping down to various types of plans, codes, policies and guidelines.

Highest level: Legislation

Acts and regulations, State and regional rules (SEPPs, REPs etc) and Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) are legally binding on those who live, work in, or visit Woollahra, and on the Council.

The Building Code of Australia is referenced in legislation and adopts Standards Australia, both contain technical provisions for the design and construction of buildings and structures.

Numerous acts and regulations are used in the planning and development process, some relevant to Woollahra include:

• Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 No. 203 (NSW)
• Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 (NSW)
• Local Government Act 1993 No. 30 (NSW)
• Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 (NSW)
• Heritage Act 1977 No. 136 (NSW)
• Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 No. 156 (NSW)
• Home Building Act 1989 No. 147 (NSW)
• Building and Construction Industry Long Service Payments Act 1986 No. 19 (NSW)
• Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 No. 40 (NSW)
• Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Commonwealth) (NSW)

You can access and search NSW Acts and Regulations at the NSW Government legislation website. Alternatively, you can access all NSW Acts and Regulations and Commonwealth Acts and Regulations through the Australasian Legal Information Institute.

Next level: Non-statutory documents

Development Control Plans (DCPs), codes, policies and guidelines are non-statutory planning documents. These may be prepared and approved by a council or the Director-General of the Department of Planning. DCPs contain detailed planning provisions and must be consistent with their associated environmental planning instruments (SEPPs, REPs and LEPs). DCPs may contain a range of measures such as planning principles, objectives and controls for buildings. DCPs can also have controls for single topics such as landscaping, drainage and car parking. A DCP may apply to a single site, a precinct or an entire local area.

Note: Those provisions in Woollahra DCP 2015 that specify requirements, standards or controls that relate to certain matters which are listed in clause 6A of SEPP No 65 Design Quality of Residential Apartment Development have no effect in the assessment and determination of a development application for development to which SEPP No 65 applies.

Residential apartment development is defined in clause 4 of SEPP No 65. It comprises residential flat buildings, shop top housing and mixed use development with a residential accommodation component. The building must be at least three or more storeys (excluding levels below existing ground level or levels that are less than 1.2m above existing ground level that provide car parking). The building must contain at least four or more dwellings.

All other provisions of Woollahra DCP 2015 can be applied to the assessment and determination of a DA for development to which SEPP No 65 applies.