How Detailed Should Site Plans Be for DA Approval?

When preparing a development application in New South Wales, your site plan is one of the first things council planners will assess.

A clear and accurate site plan helps avoid delays, requests for more information and costly redesigns.

At Town Planning Sydney, we prepare DA-ready site plans that meet both NSW planning rules and local council expectations.

Here’s what your site plan should include to support smooth DA approval.

1. Show all boundaries, structures and dimensions

Your site plan must clearly show the legal boundaries of the property, with accurate measurements.

It should include all existing and proposed structures, setbacks from boundaries and distances between buildings.

We use survey data and title documents to ensure these details are precise. In Ryde, our plan prevented rejection after a neighbour raised a boundary concern during public exhibition.

2. Include landscaping, open space and site coverage

Most councils set minimum requirements for landscaped area, deep soil zones and private open space.

Your site plan should highlight these zones and calculate site coverage to support compliance. We shade these areas clearly and include a summary table with all relevant figures.

In Parramatta, our accurate landscaping calculation helped speed up the council approval decision by avoiding clarification requests.

3. Label driveways, paths and access points

Access is an important part of NSW planning rules, especially for dual occupancies and corner lots.

The site plan must show driveway widths, gradients, pedestrian access and turning paths where applicable.

In Camden, we added a swept path diagram to our site plan to meet council’s off-street parking requirement.

4. Show stormwater drainage and easements

All easements, overland flow paths and drainage systems should be clearly labelled.

If your property includes a stormwater easement, the site plan must show how runoff will be managed.

We also identify any pipes, pits or discharge points. In Blacktown, a missed easement led to a revised design request from council that we helped resolve within three days.

5. Confirm height of existing and proposed structures

Site plans must include the finished floor levels, ridge heights and relative levels across the block.

This is essential when councils assess overshadowing, view loss or streetscape impact.

We work with our planning consultants to confirm that levels align with height limits under the LEP.

6. Show fencing, retaining walls and neighbouring features

Fencing and retaining walls can affect privacy, runoff and boundary appearance. The site plan should show height, type and location of these elements.

We also include outlines of neighbouring buildings if they are close to the boundary, to demonstrate context.

This is especially important for dual occupancies and upper-storey additions.

7. Use planning advice to avoid overcomplication

A good site plan balances detail with readability. Too much technical clutter can confuse assessors. Too little information may lead to a rejection.

Our team prepares site plans with the right level of detail to meet development application standards and satisfy council approval processes.

With Town Planning Sydney, your DA drawings come complete with smart planning advice and the technical accuracy needed to get your project approved.