Central Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022 sets height and lot rules for development applications

The Central Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022 establishes the primary zoning and development rules across the region. It consolidated the former Gosford and Wyong LEPs into a single instrument that now applies to most new proposals.

This plan took effect in 2022 and continues to shape decisions on residential projects. Residents considering subdivision, dual occupancies or new dwellings encounter its standards at the point they lodge a development application with Central Coast Council.

Standards that apply to most sites

Under the plan a default maximum building height of 10 metres applies to dwellings in areas not specifically mapped. This limit generally restricts buildings to two storeys. The minimum lot size for residential subdivision where not mapped is 450 square metres. In R2 Low Density Residential zones dual occupancies typically require lots between 450 and 600 square metres.

Each zone contains a land use table that classifies development as permitted without consent, permitted with consent or prohibited. Projects permitted with consent require a full development application, while those permitted without consent need only a construction certificate.

Documentation required for approval

A Statement of Environmental Effects must accompany most development applications. This document demonstrates how the proposal complies with both the Central Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022 and the Central Coast Development Control Plan 2022. Applicants check the relevant land use table early to determine whether consent is needed.

Residents feel the impact of these rules when they prepare or assess a proposal for their property. The requirements determine what can be built, the size of any new lots and the information that must be submitted before work can begin.