Site Selection Secrets Every First Home Owner Should Know in 2025
- By BuildQ,
- 05 May 2025
Unlocking NSW’S 2025 Duplex Laws : What Every Homeowner Must Know
Homeowners, rejoice! More land, investment opportunities and a smoother journey towards your dual occupancy living or duplex dream is here!
The NSW government has enacted regulatory updates governing duplex and dual occupancy housing. These developments unlock many suburban spots and quicker approvals of your housing projects.
The initial reforms focused on overriding environmental hurdles to permit dual occupancies in the R2 low-density residential zones. The latest development encourages a greater diversity of low and mid-rise housing (including dual occupancies and duplexes) within 800 meters of nominated town centers and transport hubs.
With these significant developments, BuildQ Group reveals why now is the best time to build duplex or plan dual occupancy homes in NSW.
What Is the Housing SEPP?
The Housing SEPP, or State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021, is a NSW planning instrument that aims to increase the supply and diversity of housing across multiple regions. It combines previous regulations and simplifies development processes for different housing types.
Recent updates prioritise affordable housing and incentivize low and mid-rise projects near transport hubs and town centers, sometimes overriding stricter local council rules to facilitate more housing.
The Law and The Amendments
Comprehensive changes have been made to the SEPP (Housing) 2021. Lets understand them:
1. 2024 Changes: Opening Up the R2 Zone
🔹 The amendment in focus is – State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) Amendment (Dual Occupancies and Semi-detached Dwellings), 2024.
🔹 These updates primarily focused on making dual occupancies and semi-detached dwellings permissible with development consent in Zone R2 (Low-Density Residential) across most of NSW.
🔹 It became operational on 1st July, 2024.
🔹 The primary aim was to override local environmental plans that prohibited these types of dwellings in R2 zones.
🔹 The amendment promoted housing diversity in these areas.
2. 2025 Amendment: Doubling Down Near Town Centers
🔹 The amendment in focus is – State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) Amendment (Low and Mid-Rise Housing), 2025 (Amending SEPP).
🔹 This is a more comprehensive amendment that builds upon the earlier changes.
🔹 It became operational on 28th February, 2025.
🔹 The aim is to encourage a greater diversity of low and mid-rise housing (including dual occupancies, attached dwellings etc.) in areas within 800 meters of nominated town centers and transport hubs.
🔹 It introduces new permissibility rules and non-discretionary development standards for housing in specific residential zones (R1, R2, R3, R4) within the designated ‘low and mid-rise’ housing areas.
🔹 It shall override the rigid standards within Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) and Development Control Plans (DCPs).
💡BuildQ Group Simplifies:
To view the indicative spatial map reflecting the biggest planning changes in the history of New South Wales:
What Changes for You After the New Duplex and Dual Occupancy Laws?
Some of the crucial changes identified by BuildQ Group’s experts are below. You can also find the broader insights here.
✅ Lot Size and Width: The new 12-metre rule makes it easier to build duplexes in a wide range of locations.
✅ Permissible Developments: Councils within the R2 zone must now allow homeowners to build Duplexes and Semidetached dual occupancy houses in previously restricted zones.
✅ Dual Occupancy Approvals: With ease of compliance, you can expect quicker project planning, approval and completions.
✅ Height Restrictions, Parking Requirements: Some limitations introduced in 2024 (setbacks, height, parking) might still apply. Homeowners must check their local council’s guidelines to confirm them.
Exemptions to The Law and its Amendments
🔹 The newly enacted provisions shall exclude some of the categorized lands that are:
🔹 Within a Transport-Oriented Development Area, as defined in the Housing SEPP.
🔹 Containing a listed heritage item or having a listed heritage item located on it.
🔹 Located on a designated land prone to bushfires.
🔹 Situated on specific flood-prone land or within flood planning areas in particular local council areas.
🔹 Lying within a sensitive coastal region, coastal wetlands and littoral rainforest area.
🔹 Located within an ANEF contour or ANEC contour of 20 or higher.
🔹 Situated within 200 meters of certain pipelines.
💡BuildQ Group Notes: Some areas are exempt from these rules as their local councils have specific restrictions. They include Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Wollondilly and Bathurst due to specific reasons like a higher risk from bushfires, floods and unsuitability as a residential land.
Considering A Duplex? The Timing Couldn’t Be Any Better!
The welcoming changes make Sydney’s growing suburbs more accessible for first homeowners and investors. In 2025, the new rules aim to achieve the following:
🔹 Make Duplex Approvals Easier – Clear guidelines mean fewer delays for project completion.
🔹 Create More Housing Supply – Expect increased duplex home availability in key regions.
🔹 Offer New Investment Opportunities – A great chance to maximise your land’s potential.
Stress-Free Luxury With BuildQ Group
Every Duplex or a Dual occupancy home from BuildQ Group exhibits immense knowledge and experience-led skillset. Our expert team always leads when it comes to innovative, sustainable and beautiful duplex homes across NSW.
We ensure that every detail, from timelines to legal compliances are handled with precision.
Enjoy the luxury and comfort of our double occupancy homes. Call us or click on the button to connect with our experts.
Call : 61 488 338 606 / 1300 408 051
Email: build@buildqgroup.com.au
Disclaimer: The article has been written to the best knowledge as of publishing date. BuildQ Group holds no responsibility in case of any unintentional discrepancies or inaccuracies. It is always advisable to read the FAQs from NSW Government’s Planning Portal or directly reach out to our experts.
