NSW zones explained
What each NSW planning zone is for and what councils allow in it, counted across 147 council Local Environmental Plans.
Rural zones
- RU1 Primary Production 107 LEPs
- RU2 Rural Landscape 49 LEPs
- RU3 Forestry 81 LEPs
- RU4 Primary Production Small Lots 54 LEPs
- RU5 Village 100 LEPs
- RU6 Transition 14 LEPs
Recreation zones
- RE1 Public Recreation 134 LEPs
- RE2 Private Recreation 125 LEPs
Residential zones
- R1 General Residential 97 LEPs
- R2 Low Density Residential 87 LEPs
- R3 Medium Density Residential 74 LEPs
- R4 High Density Residential 30 LEPs
- R5 Large Lot Residential 106 LEPs
Mixed use zone
- MU1 Mixed Use 87 LEPs
Employment zones
- E1 Local Centre 121 LEPs
- E2 Commercial Centre 65 LEPs
- E3 Productivity Support 95 LEPs
- E4 General Industrial 124 LEPs
- E5 Heavy Industrial 26 LEPs
Conservation zones
- C1 National Parks and Nature Reserves 123 LEPs
- C2 Environmental Conservation 91 LEPs
- C3 Environmental Management 85 LEPs
- C4 Environmental Living 61 LEPs
Special purpose zones
- SP1 Special Activities 78 LEPs
- SP2 Infrastructure 135 LEPs
- SP3 Tourist 50 LEPs
- SP4 Enterprise 14 LEPs
Waterway zones
- W1 Natural Waterways 63 LEPs
- W2 Recreational Waterways 59 LEPs
- W3 Working Waterways 10 LEPs
- W4 Working Waterfront 23 LEPs
Frequently asked questions
Where do these zone codes come from?
From the Standard Instrument, the template every NSW council Local Environmental Plan follows. It fixes the zone names and codes, and each council chooses which zones it uses and what is allowed in them.
Why is a zone missing from this list?
A zone gets a page when at least 5 council LEPs use it, so there is something to compare. A zone used by only one or two councils is shown on those councils’ own pages instead.
Talk to a town planner in New South Wales
This page covers the general rules. A qualified town planner can tell you what applies to your block, including the zone, overlays and approval path, before you spend money on drawings.
- Qualified, practising town planners
- Advice specific to your property
- Free, with no obligation