glossary Glossary 1 min read

LEP (Local Environmental Plan)

What an LEP is in NSW: the council-level planning rulebook that sets zones, land uses, and development controls for a local government area.

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An LEP (Local Environmental Plan) is a council-level planning instrument made under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW). Each council has its own LEP, which sets the zoning map for its area (R1, R2, R3, R4, RU5, etc.), the land uses permitted in each zone, minimum lot sizes, and key development controls. For a builder, the LEP determines whether a site is in a zone eligible for CDC and whether the council-set minimum lot size is higher than the Housing Code’s 200 m2 baseline.

Also known as: Local Environmental Plan.

Category: Approvals.

See also


Last updated: 2026-05-08. Verified: 2026-05-08.