Do You Need Help Designing a Duplex for Council Approval?

Designing a duplex in New South Wales requires more than just a clever floor plan.

To get your project approved, your design needs to comply with NSW planning rules and match the expectations of your local council.

At Town Planning Sydney, we specialise in duplex designs that are both liveable and compliant.

We combine architectural drafting with expert planning advice to guide you through the full development application process.

Here’s what you need to know if you're planning a duplex and want to avoid delays in getting DA approval.

1. Duplex projects must comply with zoning, lot size and frontage controls

Not every block can accommodate a duplex. Before designing anything, you need to know if your site meets the basic requirements.

Our planning consultants assess zoning, minimum lot width and other key controls before any drafting begins.

In a project in Campbelltown, a client was unaware of a side boundary restriction that would have triggered a refusal. We revised the layout early and helped them avoid unnecessary redesign.

2. Each council has its own planning rules

Duplex designs must follow not only state-level codes but also local Development Control Plans.

These can vary significantly between councils. For example, some councils allow double garages at the front while others restrict them.

We recently worked with a client in Georges River Council and redesigned a front setback to align with streetscape policy. The result was a smoother council approval process.

3. You need DA-ready plans, not just concept drawings

A duplex development application must include site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, shadow diagrams and landscape layouts.

Many designers provide basic sketches that lack planning compliance. Our team produces DA-ready documentation that meets both design standards and NSW planning requirements.

In a duplex project in Blacktown, our full documentation set passed council’s review without a request for changes.

4. Good planning advice saves time and avoids rework

Too many applicants lodge designs that need major changes later. We give early planning advice so your design fits planning controls from day one.

In a recent case in Inner West Council, our planner recommended a reduced upper-level footprint to meet overshadowing controls.

The client followed the advice, and the application was approved without needing a redesign.

5. We combine drafting and planning into one streamlined process

Most delays happen when designers and planners work separately. At Town Planning Sydney, our drafters and planning consultants collaborate on every duplex design.

This means fewer errors and faster updates when council asks for changes. In Ryde, our team revised privacy screens and updated drawings within 48 hours, keeping the DA on track.

6. We manage the entire DA process for you

From the first concept to DA approval, we guide you through each stage. We prepare all required documents, lodge the application and respond to council feedback.

Clients appreciate not having to chase separate consultants or worry about technical forms. Our goal is to make the development application process simple and successful.

Designing a duplex for council approval is about more than style. It requires compliance, strategy and planning knowledge that general designers may not offer.

Town Planning Sydney provides a complete solution so you can build confidently and avoid costly mistakes.