RE1 Public Recreation zone in NSW

RE1 is a zone in the NSW Standard Instrument, and 134 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: 134 of the 147 council LEPs
Dwelling houses: allowed in 1 of the 134
Uses the table doesn’t name: prohibited in 134 of the 134
Tables as at: 19 August 2026

What the zone is for

Every council that uses RE1 includes these objectives, word for word. They come from the Standard Instrument, the template all NSW council plans are built on:

To enable land to be used for public open space or recreational purposes.
To provide a range of recreational settings and activities and compatible land uses.
To protect and enhance the natural environment for recreational purposes.

53 of the 134 LEPs add objectives of their own, so the full list for a property depends on its council.

Can you build a house in RE1?

A dwelling house is allowed in 1 of the 134 LEPs that use RE1 (with consent in 1). It is prohibited in 133.

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 (13)

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
Aquaculture	0	134	0
Environmental facilities	34	100	0
Environmental protection works	109	25	0
Kiosks	0	134	0
Recreation areas	0	134	0
Roads	58	76	0
Recreation facilities (outdoor)	0	133	1
Community facilities	0	132	2
Recreation facilities (indoor)	0	132	2
Recreation facilities (major)	0	117	17
Building identification signs	5	109	20
Information and education facilities	0	113	21
Business identification signs	2	107	25

Councils differ (24)

These uses are allowed by some councils that use RE1 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
Water recreation structures	0	98	36	0
Boat launching ramps	0	90	44	0
Boat sheds	0	85	49	0
Water storage facilities	0	85	49	0
Water reticulation systems	19	65	50	0
Jetties	0	82	52	0
Camping grounds	0	78	56	0
Markets	3	75	56	0
Flood mitigation works	11	61	62	0
Caravan parks	0	68	66	0
Centre-based child care facilities	0	67	67	0
Charter and tourism boating facilities	0	65	69	0
Restaurants or cafes	0	65	69	0
Respite day care centres	0	64	70	0
Water supply systems	0	63	40	31
Water recycling facilities	0	61	73	0
Emergency services facilities	0	52	82	0
Car parks	0	45	89	0
Signage	0	43	14	77
Heliports	0	42	92	0
Moorings	5	34	95	0
Take away food and drink premises	0	38	96	0
Mooring pens	0	37	97	0
Sewerage systems	0	17	68	49

Prohibited in most councils (10)

Most of the LEPs that use RE1 prohibit these, either by naming them or through the catch-all rule below.

Show all 10

Use	No consent needed	With consent	Prohibited	Can’t say
Helipads	0	14	120	0
Registered clubs	0	19	115	0
Eco-tourist facilities	0	20	114	0
Public administration buildings	0	20	114	0
Research stations	0	21	113	0
Extensive agriculture	7	12	112	3
Wharf or boating facilities	0	25	109	0
Marinas	0	30	104	0
Entertainment facilities	0	31	103	0
Function centres	0	33	101	0

Uses the table doesn’t name

Every council’s table ends with a rule for anything it hasn’t listed. 134 of the 134 LEPs prohibit any use their RE1 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 RE1 (134)

Some councils have more than one LEP, each covering part of the area.

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 RE1 Public Recreation zoning in NSW?

RE1 Public Recreation is one of the zones in the NSW Standard Instrument, used by 134 of the 147 council Local Environmental Plans. Its first standard objective is: “To enable land to be used for public open space or recreational purposes.”

Can you build a house in RE1 zoning?

A dwelling house is allowed in 1 of the 134 LEPs that use RE1 (with consent in 1). It is prohibited in 133. 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 RE1 table doesn’t list?

134 of the 134 LEPs prohibit any use their RE1 table doesn’t name. That catch-all rule is part of each council’s table, so a use can be prohibited in RE1 without being named.

How do I check if my property is zoned RE1?

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

Land use tables as at 19 August 2026. Councils amend their LEPs, so confirm against the current plan for your land.

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.

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