ZoneScout

RE2 Private Recreation zone in NSW

RE2 is a zone in the NSW Standard Instrument, and 125 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
125 of the 147 council LEPs
Dwelling houses
allowed in 8 of the 125
Uses the table doesn’t name
prohibited in 119 of the 125
Tables as at
19 August 2026

What the zone is for

Every council that uses RE2 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 private 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.

40 of the 125 LEPs add objectives of their own, so the full list for a property depends on its council.

Can you build a house in RE2?

A dwelling house is allowed in 8 of the 125 LEPs that use RE2 (with consent in 8). It is prohibited in 117.

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 (12)

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.

UseNo consent neededWith consentProhibitedCan’t say
Aquaculture012500
Community facilities012500
Environmental facilities1910600
Environmental protection works794600
Kiosks012500
Recreation areas012500
Recreation facilities (indoor)012500
Recreation facilities (outdoor)012500
Roads378800
Registered clubs012050
Building identification signs4108130
Business identification signs1109150

Prohibited in most councils (19)

Most of the LEPs that use RE2 prohibit these, either by naming them or through the catch-all rule below.

Show all 19
UseNo consent neededWith consentProhibitedCan’t say
Forestry071180
Home businesses361160
Farm buildings0101150
Veterinary hospitals0101150
Home occupations1021130
Educational establishments0131120
Boat building and repair facilities0151100
Electricity generating works0151100
Seniors housing0171080
Animal boarding or training establishments0191060
Research stations0191060
Wharf or boating facilities0221030
Farm stay accommodation0231020
Airstrips0241010
Places of public worship0241010
Extensive agriculture10111004
Passenger transport facilities0251000
Bed and breakfast accommodation030950
Mooring pens031940

Uses the table doesn’t name

Every council’s table ends with a rule for anything it hasn’t listed. 119 of the 125 LEPs prohibit any use their RE2 table doesn’t name. The other 6 allow such uses with consent.

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 RE2 (125)

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 RE2 Private Recreation zoning in NSW?

RE2 Private Recreation is one of the zones in the NSW Standard Instrument, used by 125 of the 147 council Local Environmental Plans. Its first standard objective is: “To enable land to be used for private open space or recreational purposes.”

Can you build a house in RE2 zoning?

A dwelling house is allowed in 8 of the 125 LEPs that use RE2 (with consent in 8). It is prohibited in 117. 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 RE2 table doesn’t list?

119 of the 125 LEPs prohibit any use their RE2 table doesn’t name. The other 6 allow such uses with consent. That catch-all rule is part of each council’s table, so a use can be prohibited in RE2 without being named.

How do I check if my property is zoned RE2?

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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