C3 Environmental Management zone in NSW
C3 is a zone in the NSW Standard Instrument, and 85 of the 147 council Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) use it. This page shows what the zone is for and what those councils allow in it, counted from each council’s own land use table.
- Used by
- 85 of the 147 council LEPs
- Dwelling houses
- allowed in 85 of the 85
- Uses the table doesn’t name
- prohibited in 85 of the 85
- Tables as at
- 19 August 2026
What the zone is for
Every council that uses C3 includes these objectives, word for word. They come from the Standard Instrument, the template all NSW council plans are built on:
- To protect, manage and restore areas with special ecological, scientific, cultural or aesthetic values.
- To provide for a limited range of development that does not have an adverse effect on those values.
51 of the 85 LEPs add objectives of their own, so the full list for a property depends on its council.
Can you build a house in C3?
A dwelling house is allowed in 85 of the 85 LEPs that use C3 (with consent in 85).
Whether a particular lot can take a house also depends on rules mapped to that lot, such as the minimum lot size, so check the address before relying on this.
Allowed in most councils (14)
Each number is a count of LEPs, not properties. No consent needed means the use itself doesn’t need a development application. With consent means it does. Can’t say is not a ban: either that council has no rule for the use, or it is a broad term whose types the table treats differently, so it depends on the type of project.
| Use | No consent needed | With consent | Prohibited | Can’t say |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwelling houses | 0 | 85 | 0 | 0 |
| Environmental protection works | 31 | 54 | 0 | 0 |
| Home occupations | 85 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oyster aquaculture | 0 | 85 | 0 | 0 |
| Pond-based aquaculture | 0 | 85 | 0 | 0 |
| Roads | 10 | 75 | 0 | 0 |
| Tank-based aquaculture | 0 | 85 | 0 | 0 |
| Environmental facilities | 1 | 77 | 7 | 0 |
| Bed and breakfast accommodation | 0 | 70 | 15 | 0 |
| Extensive agriculture | 39 | 30 | 12 | 4 |
| Home businesses | 8 | 60 | 17 | 0 |
| Recreation areas | 0 | 66 | 19 | 0 |
| Building identification signs | 1 | 64 | 20 | 0 |
| Home-based child care | 24 | 40 | 21 | 0 |
Councils differ (34)
These uses are allowed by some councils that use C3 and prohibited by others, so the answer depends on which council the land is in.
| Use | No consent needed | With consent | Prohibited | Can’t say |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dairies (pasture-based) | 27 | 34 | 24 | 0 |
| Farm buildings | 0 | 61 | 24 | 0 |
| Business identification signs | 0 | 60 | 25 | 0 |
| Flood mitigation works | 4 | 53 | 28 | 0 |
| Home industries | 2 | 55 | 28 | 0 |
| Eco-tourist facilities | 0 | 55 | 30 | 0 |
| Farm stay accommodation | 0 | 53 | 32 | 0 |
| Water storage facilities | 0 | 51 | 34 | 0 |
| Information and education facilities | 0 | 50 | 35 | 0 |
| Research stations | 0 | 49 | 36 | 0 |
| Community facilities | 0 | 45 | 40 | 0 |
| Water reticulation systems | 6 | 38 | 41 | 0 |
| Emergency services facilities | 0 | 41 | 44 | 0 |
| Camping grounds | 0 | 40 | 45 | 0 |
| Water recreation structures | 0 | 39 | 46 | 0 |
| Roadside stalls | 0 | 38 | 47 | 0 |
| Cellar door premises | 0 | 37 | 48 | 0 |
| Water supply systems | 0 | 34 | 30 | 21 |
| Dual occupancies (attached) | 0 | 32 | 53 | 0 |
| Kiosks | 0 | 32 | 53 | 0 |
| Boat sheds | 0 | 29 | 56 | 0 |
| Horticulture | 1 | 26 | 58 | 0 |
| Animal boarding or training establishments | 0 | 26 | 59 | 0 |
| Jetties | 0 | 26 | 59 | 0 |
| Agritourism | 0 | 25 | 48 | 12 |
| Boat launching ramps | 0 | 25 | 60 | 0 |
| Recreation facilities (outdoor) | 0 | 25 | 60 | 0 |
| Secondary dwellings | 0 | 25 | 60 | 0 |
| Water recycling facilities | 0 | 24 | 61 | 0 |
| Dual occupancies | 0 | 14 | 53 | 18 |
| Signage | 0 | 13 | 20 | 52 |
| Agriculture | 0 | 12 | 1 | 72 |
| Tourist and visitor accommodation | 0 | 10 | 14 | 61 |
| Sewerage systems | 0 | 9 | 58 | 18 |
Prohibited in most councils (24)
Most of the LEPs that use C3 prohibit these, either by naming them or through the catch-all rule below.
Show all 24
| Use | No consent needed | With consent | Prohibited | Can’t say |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industries | 0 | 0 | 85 | 0 |
| Multi dwelling housing | 0 | 0 | 85 | 0 |
| Residential flat buildings | 0 | 0 | 85 | 0 |
| Retail premises | 0 | 0 | 85 | 0 |
| Seniors housing | 0 | 0 | 85 | 0 |
| Service stations | 0 | 0 | 85 | 0 |
| Warehouse or distribution centres | 0 | 0 | 85 | 0 |
| Local distribution premises | 0 | 1 | 84 | 0 |
| Serviced apartments | 0 | 1 | 84 | 0 |
| Intensive livestock agriculture | 0 | 1 | 83 | 1 |
| Hotel or motel accommodation | 0 | 3 | 82 | 0 |
| Cemeteries | 0 | 9 | 76 | 0 |
| Group homes | 0 | 9 | 76 | 0 |
| Rural workers’ dwellings | 0 | 9 | 76 | 0 |
| Moorings | 1 | 9 | 75 | 0 |
| Places of public worship | 0 | 11 | 74 | 0 |
| Veterinary hospitals | 0 | 11 | 74 | 0 |
| Extractive industries | 0 | 12 | 73 | 0 |
| Forestry | 0 | 12 | 73 | 0 |
| Caravan parks | 0 | 15 | 70 | 0 |
| Electricity generating works | 0 | 15 | 70 | 0 |
| Viticulture | 1 | 16 | 68 | 0 |
| Helipads | 0 | 18 | 67 | 0 |
| Home occupations (sex services) | 3 | 16 | 66 | 0 |
Uses the table doesn’t name
Every council’s table ends with a rule for anything it hasn’t listed. 85 of the 85 LEPs prohibit any use their C3 table doesn’t name.
That is why a use can be counted as prohibited above in more councils than actually name it.
What the zone doesn’t tell you
- Lot size, height and floor space are set on the LEP maps for each property, so they vary within the same zone.
- Heritage, flood and bushfire mapping can limit what is possible on a lot even where the zone allows it.
- State policies can apply as well as the council’s table. Granny flats are dealt with under the Housing SEPP, and small works such as sheds can be exempt development under the Codes SEPP. See the NSW granny flat rules and NSW shed rules.
An address search shows all of this for one property.
Council LEPs that use C3 (85)
Some councils have more than one LEP, each covering part of the area.
- Albury LEP 2010
- Armidale Regional LEP 2012
- Ballina LEP 2012
- Bega Valley LEP 2013
- Bellingen LEP 2010
- Berrigan LEP 2013
- Blacktown LEP 2015
- Bland LEP 2011
- Blue Mountains LEP 2015
- Byron LEP 2014
- Campbelltown LEP 2015
- Central Coast LEP 2022
- Cessnock LEP 2011
- Clarence Valley LEP 2011
- Cobar LEP 2012
- Coffs Harbour LEP 2013
- Cooma-Monaro LEP 2013
- Cootamundra LEP 2013
- Corowa LEP 2012
- Cowra LEP 2012
- Dubbo Regional LEP 2022
- Dungog LEP 2014
- Edward River LEP 2013
- Fairfield LEP 2013
- Forbes LEP 2013
- Gilgandra LEP 2011
- Glen Innes Severn LEP 2012
- Gloucester LEP 2010
- Goulburn Mulwaree LEP 2009
- Great Lakes LEP 2014
- Greater Taree LEP 2010
- Griffith LEP 2014
- Gunnedah LEP 2012
- Guyra LEP 2012
- Hawkesbury LEP 2012
- Hilltops LEP 2022
- Hornsby LEP 2013
- Inverell LEP 2012
- Kempsey LEP 2013
- Kiama LEP 2011
- Ku-ring-gai LEP 2015
- Lake Macquarie LEP 2014
- Lismore LEP 2012
- Lithgow LEP 2014
- Liverpool LEP 2008
- Liverpool Plains LEP 2011
- Maitland LEP 2011
- Manly LEP 2013
- Mid-Western Regional LEP 2012
- Moree Plains LEP 2011
- Murray LEP 2011
- Murrumbidgee LEP 2013
- Muswellbrook LEP 2009
- Nambucca LEP 2010
- Narrabri LEP 2012
- Narromine LEP 2011
- Newcastle LEP 2012
- Orange LEP 2011
- Penrith LEP 2010
- Pittwater LEP 2014
- Port Macquarie-Hastings LEP 2011
- Port Stephens LEP 2013
- Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional LEP 2022
- Richmond Valley LEP 2012
- Shellharbour LEP 2013
- Shoalhaven LEP (Jerberra Estate) 2014
- Shoalhaven LEP 2014
- Singleton LEP 2013
- Snowy River LEP 2013
- Sutherland Shire LEP 2015
- Tamworth Regional LEP 2010
- The Hills LEP 2019
- Tumbarumba LEP 2010
- Tweed LEP 2014
- Upper Hunter LEP 2013
- Upper Lachlan LEP 2010
- Uralla LEP 2012
- Warringah LEP 2011
- Weddin LEP 2011
- Wentworth LEP 2011
- Wingecarribee LEP 2010
- Wollondilly LEP 2011
- Wollongong LEP 2009
- Yass Valley LEP (Parkwood) 2020
- Yass Valley LEP 2013
Land zoned under a State Environmental Planning Policy rather than a council LEP, such as some growth precincts, isn’t included in these counts.
Frequently asked questions
What is C3 Environmental Management zoning in NSW?
C3 Environmental Management is one of the zones in the NSW Standard Instrument, used by 85 of the 147 council Local Environmental Plans. Its first standard objective is: “To protect, manage and restore areas with special ecological, scientific, cultural or aesthetic values.”
Can you build a house in C3 zoning?
A dwelling house is allowed in 85 of the 85 LEPs that use C3 (with consent in 85). Whether a particular lot can take a house also depends on rules mapped to that lot, such as minimum lot size, so check the address.
What happens to uses the C3 table doesn’t list?
85 of the 85 LEPs prohibit any use their C3 table doesn’t name. That catch-all rule is part of each council’s table, so a use can be prohibited in C3 without being named.
How do I check if my property is zoned C3?
Search the address on ZoneScout. It reads the zone from NSW Government planning data and shows that council’s own land use table, along with the lot size and any heritage, flood or bushfire mapping.
Sources
- Standard Instrument—Principal Local Environmental Plan (NSW legislation) ↗
- Council Local Environmental Plans (legislation.nsw.gov.au) ↗
General information only, not planning advice. Whether a project counts as a particular defined use is a planning judgement for your council or a planner.
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
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