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Understanding Exempt Development

What is Exempt Development?

Many types of minor building projects don’t need approval from a Council or accredited certifier. This is called exempt development.

Exempt development is very low-impact development that can be done for certain properties. Providing your building project meets specific development standards, approval from your Council is not needed.

For more information on Exempt Development in Australia, click here.

What development standards do I have to meet for Farm Buildings in NSW?

There are a number standards that need to be complied with.

Some examples of these requirements are:

  • Zoning: Your farm building must be located on rural land zoned RU1, RU2, RU3, RU4, RU6, or other similar zones as determined by your local council.
  • Height: The building cannot exceed 7 meters above existing ground level.
  • Setbacks: It must be located at least 20m from the primary road frontage and at least 10m from other lot boundaries
  • Distance from Waterbodies and Dwellings: The building should generally be located at least 50 meters from any natural waterbody and dwellings on adjoining properties.

For the full list of requirements, please visit the following link NSW Legislation website.

Some local councils may have specific zoning requirements or exceptions for farm buildings, so it’s always advisable to check with your local council for the most accurate information.

How can I find my property zoning?

Although most rural properties in NSW are eligible for exempt development, some land is specifically excluded from exempt development provisions.

Most properties can be checked using either the NSW interactive buildings website or the Electronic Housing Code website. If your council or property is not listed or it shows an exception you can check your property details using the NSW Planning Portal.

Before commencing any project we always recommend you contact your local council for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Further information

Further reading on exempt development in NSW, along with the requirements for other Australian states and territories, can be found below.

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