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Planning update

Housing SEPP & Dual Occupancy: What's Changing for Duplexes

State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs) sit above council controls and shape what's permissible. For dual occupancy, the interaction between state policy and the Low Rise Housing Diversity Code is where the opportunities (and the fine print) live.

Last updated: 22 June 2026

Why SEPPs matter for your duplex

SEPPs can permit dual occupancy and complying development in ways that individual council LEPs might not, and they set the standards a CDC must meet. Understanding which policy applies to your site is central to choosing the right approval pathway.

The practical step

State policy is only half the picture, it works alongside your council's controls and any overlays on your land. We reconcile the two for your specific block so the pathway is clear before design begins.

Source: NSW Planning Portal.

Reviewed by Mounzer Mortada

Registered Architect (NSW 10697)

Registered Architect and Licensed Builder with 20+ years across 3000+ projects. Read more about NSW Terraces and Duplex.

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