How Do I Show Setbacks and Height Limits on my Plans?

Setbacks and height limits are key planning controls that determine where and how high you can build.

If they are not shown clearly on your drawings, your development application or CDC is likely to be delayed.

At Town Planning Sydney, we prepare accurate plans that meet NSW planning requirements and help secure DA approval faster.

Here’s how setbacks and height limits should be shown.

1. Understand what setbacks and height limits mean

A setback is the minimum distance your building must be from a property boundary.

Height limits define the maximum allowable building height, usually measured from natural ground level to the top of the roof.

Your local council’s LEP and DCP specify both for your property.

2. Show setbacks clearly on your site plan

Setbacks should be labelled with dimension lines from the building footprint to each relevant boundary.

These measurements must match the required controls under NSW planning rules.

We use bold, easy-to-read annotations so there’s no confusion for council assessors.

3. Include minimum required setbacks for comparison

It’s best practice to show the required setbacks alongside your proposed ones.

This helps demonstrate compliance and avoids extra requests from council. In Blacktown, we helped a client secure DA approval by showing both required and proposed setbacks clearly on their plan.

4. Use consistent measurements on all drawings

The setback dimensions shown on the site plan should match those shown on floor plans, elevations and sections.

Inconsistencies are a common cause of development application delays. We coordinate all drawings in-house to ensure every sheet matches.

5. Show building height on elevations and sections

Height limits should be indicated with a dashed horizontal line on elevation drawings.

This line represents the maximum permitted height under the LEP. We then label the actual proposed building height for easy comparison.

6. Include RLs (Reduced Levels) for accuracy

RLs indicate the height of different points on your building relative to a fixed datum.

They are essential for showing how your design relates to natural ground level.

We include RLs at floor levels, roof ridges and ground points so council can check height compliance.

7. Highlight variations if you are exceeding limits

If your proposal exceeds the height limit or encroaches into a setback, this should be clearly marked.

Council will expect a justification in your Statement of Environmental Effects. Our planning consultants prepare strong justification statements where variations are sought.

8. Keep all annotations clear and legible

Plans with cluttered or poorly placed labels are hard for council to assess.

We keep annotations clean, use consistent symbols and avoid unnecessary visual noise.

This improves the readability and professionalism of your DA approval documents.

9. Engage a planning consultant for compliance checks

Showing setbacks and height limits is not just about drawing skills, it’s about knowing the rules for your property.

At Town Planning Sydney, we combine expert drafting with reliable planning advice to make sure your plans meet all NSW planning controls.