Local planning and zoning

What is a Local Environmental Plan?

Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) guide planning decisions for local government areas through zoning and development controls.

They provide a local framework for the way land can be developed and used. LEPs are the main planning tool to shape the future of communities by ensuring local development is carried out appropriately.

Changes to LEPs are important to maintain up-to-date local planning controls. The LEP making process aims to make sure these changes are strategically aligned and deliver good planning outcomes.

For more information about the LEP making process and how to prepare a planning proposal, see:

• LEP Making Guideline (PDF, 7.1 MB)
• LEP Making Attachment A – Scoping Proposal Template (DOC, 6.9 MB)
• LEP Making Guideline Attachment B – Interim Authority and Government Agency Planning Proposal Pre-Lodgement Referral Checklist (PDF, 219 KB)
• LEP Making Guideline Attachment C – Supporting Technical Information Guide (PDF, 119 KB)
• Planning Reform Action Plan FAQs (PDF, 198 KB).

NSW Planning Portal – Planning Proposals Online

Access online planning services to track the progress of your plan or review.

Site Compatibility Certificates Online

Access online planning services to track the progress of your Site Compatibility Certificate.

Updates

15 December 2021: The NSW Government has published the new LEP Making Guideline (PDF, 7.1 MB). The Guideline comes into effect today and provides a single cohesive guiding document for the rezoning process. It replaces the following Department guidelines:

• Local Environment Plans: A guide to preparing local environmental plans (2018)
• Planning Proposals: A guide to preparing planning proposals (2018)

The new Guideline seeks to better explain the planning proposal system to rezone land and implements new changes to improve the process. A key improvement is clearly defined process timeframe expectations to ensure timely assessment of planning proposals, while still ensuring high quality and placed based planning outcomes. For more information please refer to the frequently asked questions (PDF, 198 KB).

15 December 2021: The NSW Government is continuing to implement initiatives identified in the Planning Reform Action Plan to create a transparent, faster, and more certain planning system.

While initiatives such as the LEP Making Guideline will deliver immediate benefits, there is further opportunity to build on these improvements and look at long term and system-wide reform of the rezoning process. These changes could save more time, more efficiently use department and council resources to continue to deliver better place-based outcomes. The Discussion Paper: A New Approach to Rezonings has been drafted to canvass and seek feedback on a potential new approach to LEP amendments.

To read the Discussion Paper: A New Approach to Rezonings visit the planning portal exhibition page.