What’s permitted in E1 Local Centre

Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012 · as at 19 August 2026 · City of Sydney

This comes straight from the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) that applies to this exact address, not a general state guide.

The land use table

These are the planning scheme’s official terms. A close match tells you the rule for that term; whether your project counts as that term is a judgement call.

Permitted with consent 21

Development Application (DA)

  • Amusement centres
  • Boarding houses
  • Centre-based child care facilities
  • Commercial premises
  • Community facilities
  • Entertainment facilities
  • Function centres
  • Hotel or motel accommodation
  • Information and education facilities
  • Light industries
  • Local distribution premises
  • Medical centres
  • Oyster aquaculture
  • Places of public worship
  • Public administration buildings
  • Recreation facilities (indoor)
  • Respite day care centres
  • Service stations
  • Shop top housing
  • Tank-based aquaculture
  • Veterinary hospitals

Prohibited 9

  • Depots
  • Extractive industries
  • Freight transport facilities
  • Heavy industrial storage establishments
  • Industrial retail outlets
  • Industries
  • Pond-based aquaculture
  • Storage premises
  • Transport depots

Anything not named below is treated as “Permitted with consent”. That is not the same as being on the list.

Objectives of this zone

  • To provide a range of retail, business and community uses that serve the needs of people who live in, work in or visit the area.
  • To encourage investment in local commercial development that generates employment opportunities and economic growth.
  • To enable residential development that contributes to a vibrant and active local centre and is consistent with the Council’s strategic planning for residential development in the area.
  • To encourage business, retail, community and other non-residential land uses on the ground floor of buildings.
  • To maximise public transport patronage and encourage walking and cycling.

Some state-level housing and precinct policies sit above council rules and can override them — those aren’t included here.

A council’s LEP can also grant extra permitted uses of its own on top of the standard list — those aren’t included here either.

Check a property in Sydney

This page is the table for the zone. Search an address to see whether this zone actually covers the lot, or open the Sydney zoning map.

Frequently asked questions

Does this E1 Local Centre table apply to my property in Sydney?

Only if this zone and this planning scheme apply to the land. Search your address — that is what names both.

Can I assume my project is one of the terms listed for E1 Local Centre?

No. The list uses the planning scheme’s official names. Whether your project counts as one of those names is a judgement call — that’s what a planner is for.

If a use is not listed in E1 Local Centre, is it prohibited in Sydney?

Not by itself. Unlisted uses follow this zone’s fallback (“Permitted with consent”). That is different from being named on the list.

Sources

Last reviewed: 19 August 2026. Rules can change — verify with your council before starting work.

General guidance only — not planning advice. This is the land use table from Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012, sourced 19 August 2026. It does not decide what your project is, and overlays can still change what you need to apply for.

Talk to a town planner in Sydney

This page covers the general rules. A qualified town planner can tell you what applies to your actual block — the zone, the overlays and the approval path — before you spend money on drawings.

  • Qualified, practising town planners
  • Advice on your property, not a generic rule
  • No cost, no obligation

Free planning consultation

A qualified town planner will be in touch within 1 business day.

By submitting you agree to be contacted about your enquiry. We never sell your data. See our Privacy Policy.