RU3 Forestry zone in NSW
RU3 is a zone in the NSW Standard Instrument, and 81 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
- 81 of the 147 council LEPs
- Dwelling houses
- allowed in 3 of the 81
- Uses the table doesn’t name
- prohibited in 81 of the 81
- Tables as at
- 19 August 2026
What the zone is for
Every council that uses RU3 includes these objectives, word for word. They come from the Standard Instrument, the template all NSW council plans are built on:
- To enable development for forestry purposes.
- To enable other development that is compatible with forestry land uses.
4 of the 81 LEPs add objectives of their own, so the full list for a property depends on its council.
Can you build a house in RU3?
A dwelling house is allowed in 3 of the 81 LEPs that use RU3 (with consent in 3). It is prohibited in 78.
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 (2)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquaculture | 0 | 81 | 0 | 0 |
| Roads | 46 | 34 | 1 | 0 |
Prohibited in most councils (4)
Most of the LEPs that use RU3 prohibit these, either by naming them or through the catch-all rule below.
Show all 4
| Use | No consent needed | With consent | Prohibited | Can’t say |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental facilities | 2 | 8 | 71 | 0 |
| Flood mitigation works | 1 | 10 | 70 | 0 |
| Extractive industries | 0 | 13 | 68 | 0 |
| Environmental protection works | 7 | 8 | 66 | 0 |
Uses the table doesn’t name
Every council’s table ends with a rule for anything it hasn’t listed. 81 of the 81 LEPs prohibit any use their RU3 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 RU3 (81)
Some councils have more than one LEP, each covering part of the area.
- Armidale Regional LEP 2012
- Balranald LEP 2010
- Bathurst Regional LEP 2014
- Bega Valley LEP 2013
- Bellingen LEP 2010
- Bland LEP 2011
- Blayney LEP 2012
- Bogan LEP 2011
- Bombala LEP 2012
- Cabonne LEP 2012
- Carrathool LEP 2012
- Central Coast LEP 2022
- Cessnock LEP 2011
- Clarence Valley LEP 2011
- Cobar LEP 2012
- Coffs Harbour LEP 2013
- Coolamon LEP 2011
- Cooma-Monaro LEP 2013
- Coonamble LEP 2011
- Corowa LEP 2012
- Cowra LEP 2012
- Dubbo Regional LEP 2022
- Dungog LEP 2014
- Edward River LEP 2013
- Eurobodalla LEP 2012
- Forbes LEP 2013
- Gilgandra LEP 2011
- Glen Innes Severn LEP 2012
- Gloucester LEP 2010
- Goulburn Mulwaree LEP 2009
- Great Lakes LEP 2014
- Greater Hume LEP 2012
- Greater Taree LEP 2010
- Griffith LEP 2014
- Gundagai LEP 2011
- Gunnedah LEP 2012
- Guyra LEP 2012
- Hay LEP 2011
- Jerilderie LEP 2012
- Kempsey LEP 2013
- Kyogle LEP 2012
- Lachlan LEP 2013
- Lake Macquarie LEP 2014
- Lismore LEP 2012
- Lithgow LEP 2014
- Liverpool Plains LEP 2011
- Lockhart LEP 2012
- Mid-Western Regional LEP 2012
- Murray LEP 2011
- Murrumbidgee LEP 2013
- Muswellbrook LEP 2009
- Nambucca LEP 2010
- Narrabri LEP 2012
- Narrandera LEP 2013
- Narromine LEP 2011
- Oberon LEP 2013
- Parkes LEP 2012
- Port Macquarie-Hastings LEP 2011
- Port Stephens LEP 2013
- Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional LEP 2022
- Richmond Valley LEP 2012
- Shoalhaven LEP 2014
- Singleton LEP 2013
- Snowy River LEP 2013
- Tamworth Regional LEP 2010
- Temora LEP 2010
- The Hills LEP 2019
- Tumbarumba LEP 2010
- Tumut LEP 2012
- Upper Hunter LEP 2013
- Upper Lachlan LEP 2010
- Urana LEP 2011
- Wagga Wagga LEP 2010
- Wakool LEP 2013
- Walgett LEP 2013
- Warren LEP 2012
- Warrumbungle LEP 2013
- Weddin LEP 2011
- Wentworth LEP 2011
- Wingecarribee LEP 2010
- 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 RU3 Forestry zoning in NSW?
RU3 Forestry is one of the zones in the NSW Standard Instrument, used by 81 of the 147 council Local Environmental Plans. Its first standard objective is: “To enable development for forestry purposes.”
Can you build a house in RU3 zoning?
A dwelling house is allowed in 3 of the 81 LEPs that use RU3 (with consent in 3). It is prohibited in 78. 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 RU3 table doesn’t list?
81 of the 81 LEPs prohibit any use their RU3 table doesn’t name. That catch-all rule is part of each council’s table, so a use can be prohibited in RU3 without being named.
How do I check if my property is zoned RU3?
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.
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