ZoneScout

Where can you build Farm buildings in NSW?

“Farm buildings” is a defined term in the NSW planning system, and every council’s Local Environmental Plan decides which zones allow it. Across 147 council LEPs it is permitted in 27 zones and prohibited in 28.

Zone by zone, across 147 NSW councils

Each row counts councils, not properties. “Without consent” means no application is needed; “with consent” means a development application. “Can’t say” is not a ban — those councils have not addressed this use in that zone at all.

ZoneWithout consentWith consentProhibitedCan’t sayCouncils with this zone
RU1 Primary Production1196——107
R5 Large Lot Residential—6640—106
C3 Environmental Management—6124—85
RU4 Primary Production Small Lots351——54
RU2 Rural Landscape148——49
C4 Environmental Living12733—61
RU5 Village—2476—100
E4 General Industrial—14110—124
MU1 Mixed Use—1176—87
RU6 Transition—113—14
RE2 Private Recreation—10115—125
E1 Local Centre—91111121
R2 Low Density Residential—879—87
C2 Environmental Conservation—784—91
E3 Productivity Support—788—95
R1 General Residential—790—97
SP3 Tourist—644—50
R3 Medium Density Residential—569—74
E5 Heavy Industrial—422—26
RU3 Forestry—477—81
E2 Commercial Centre—362—65
RE1 Public Recreation—2132—134
W4 Working Waterfront—221—23
R4 High Density Residential—129—30
SP1 Special Activities—177—78
SP4 Enterprise—113—14
SP5 Metropolitan Centre—1——1
C1 National Parks and Nature Reserves——123—123
SP2 Infrastructure——1341135
W1 Natural Waterways——63—63
W2 Recreational Waterways——59—59
W3 Working Waterways——10—10

How those answers were reached. 1,300 of the “prohibited” answers and 139 of the “with consent” answers come from the zone’s catch-all row — the scheme does not name this use in that zone, but it says what happens to everything it has not named. That is a real answer, not a guess, and it is the reason a count of explicit listings would tell you the opposite in some zones.

What this page cannot tell you

Which zone your land is in, and whether your project is characterised as a farm buildings in the first place. The first is a question about an address; the second is a planning judgement. Check an address for the zone and the overlays on it.

Frequently asked questions

Are farm buildings allowed in every council in New South Wales?

No. Each council’s Local Environmental Plan has its own land use table, and they differ. This page counts, zone by zone, how many of the 147 NSW council LEPs permit it, prohibit it, or say nothing either way.

My zone shows a number under “Can’t say” — what does that mean?

It means those councils neither name this use in that zone nor have a catch-all row covering everything they have not named. It is not a ban and it is not permission. Only an explicit listing in the prohibited rung, or a catch-all that prohibits, is a prohibition.

Does this tell me whether my project counts as farm buildings?

No, and that is deliberate. Deciding which defined term your project is called is a planning judgement, not something this page can do for you. Search your address for the zone, then talk to a planner about how the project is characterised.

Sources

Last reviewed: the published LEPs. Rules can change — verify with your council before starting work.

General guidance only — not professional planning advice. Land use tables change as councils amend their LEPs; always confirm against the current instrument for your land.

Talk to a town planner in New South Wales

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