Approvals

Northern Beaches Zoning Just Changed: What Property Owners and Builders Can Now Build

Recent NSW housing reforms have opened parts of Sydney’s Northern Beaches to duplexes, terraces, townhouses and taller apartments. Here is what changed and what it means for construction.

TL;DR Large parts of Sydney’s Northern Beaches now have greater residential development potential. Since 2024 and 2025, NSW planning reforms have permitted more dual occupancies, terraces, townhouses and apartment buildings, particularly within an 800-metre walk of nine nominated centres. The opportunity is significant, but the changes do not create automatic approval. Bushfire, coastal, heritage, flooding, access, tree canopy, parking, infrastructure and local design controls can still determine whether a project is practical. Property owners should commission a site-specific feasibility study before relying on a zoning map or headline building height. First: most properties were not technically rezoned The phrase “zoning changes” is useful shorthand, but much of the recent development up…