Read updates about PropCode and planning.

AI for Planning: Why Accuracy Matters

AI is becoming a growing topic in urban planning for property development.Many planners, certifiers, architects, builders and developers are curious about what it can do. That curiosity makes sense. Planning work often involves large volumes of legislation, policies, maps, planning instrum

NSW Pattern Book & CDC

The NSW Government has introduced a new Pattern Book initiative to speed up housing delivery. But what exactly is it, how does it work, and what role does the new Pattern Book Development Code play in CDC approvals?Here’s our quick breakdown of what you need to know.What is t

NSW Pattern Book: webinar

Watch PropCode's webinar on the NSW Pattern Book, download the slide pack, and read answers to common questions about the approval pathways.

NSW Accessible Area

One of the most mysterious terms in NSW planning is “accessible area”. Have you ever seen a map of what constitutes an accessible area… No?An accessible area is defined in the Housing SEPP as land within:800m walking distance ofa public entrance to a

Low and Mid Rise - Flood Exclusion

Did you know that the NSW Low and Mid Rise policy doesn't always exclude flood-affected properties? You'd have to read rules and maps very carefully to understand when.This exclusion list for LMR mentions "flood prone land" or land in a "flood planning area". So people might have assumed

Planning Controls on Development Sites

Imagine you're a property developer in New South Wales, constantly on the lookout for the next promising site. Your day often starts with scanning listings, networking, and perhaps a drive through potential suburbs.You spot a

Rapid Planning Report - Development Options

We hope you’ve had a chance to use PropCode’s revolutionary Rapid Planning Report tool. Based on our specialist AI engine, it writes deeply researched planning reports for any land use on a property in just a few minutes.We have jus

NSW Low Mid Rise Reform is Now Finalised

After over 14 months of waiting, the massive planning reform targeting stations and centres across New South Wales has been finalised at last and will come into force on 28 February 2025. It's not an understatement to call this one of the biggest wholesale planning changes in the history of New S

Terraces in the Low and Mid Rise Policy

We at PropCode have been getting lots of questions from people across NSW about building terraces under the new Low and Mid Rise rules. There seems to be some confusion on this topic, so please consider this explanation:0. A bit of background - “Multi dwelling housing” refers

Low and Mid Rise Reform: webinar

Watch PropCode's webinar on the NSW Low and Mid Rise reform, with answers to common questions about how the rules apply.

NSW Planning Reform: Dual Occupancies (OLD Feb 2024)

(posted on 27 Feb 2024)Among many different components in the recently announced NSW planning reforms, there are changes being proposed to both permissibility and lot eligibility for dual occupancies. These changes have not gotten as much attention as the higher density changes, but they h

NSW Planning Reform: Dual Occupancies (Feb 2025)

In NSW the Low and Mid Rise Housing Reform has remained mostly under wraps since its exhibition in December 2023, but some critical information just became public via an interesting source: Ku-ring-gai Council.

NSW Dual Occupancy Reform: January 2025

A signature reform proposed in December 2023 in NSW, the “Low and Mid Rise Reforms”, would affect planning rules for dual occupancies across NSW. The new rules have been partially implemented, and this article gives an update as at 3 January 2025.

NSW Low & Mid Rise Reform: January 2025

A signature reform proposed in December 2023 in NSW, the “Low and Mid Rise Reform”, would increase housing density near rail stations and centres across NSW. These reforms have mostly remained unimplemented, and this article gives an update as at 3 January 2025.

Introducing PropCode's Rapid Planning Report

Imagine a future where, in just a few minutes, an automated tool finds and analyses the critical planning rules for your DA project from among thousands of pages of local and state plans.That future has arrived today with PropCode’s new Rapid

NSW League Table - DCP Page Count

At PropCode we’re debuting our own League Table for DCP page count with one DCP far surpassing all others.

NSW Reform: Dual Occupancy Gazetted

How Many Dwellings in a TOD Catchment?

TOD SEPPThe recent NSW TOD SEPP aims to increase density within 400 metres of selected train stations across Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle, and Illawarra. The reforms allow for apartment buildings to reach at least 2.5:1 FSR and 22-24m building height in residential zones, regardless

PropCode CDC chosen for AI Solutions Panel

PropCode has some exciting news to share about our PropCode CDC tool, which has already proven valuable to architects and developers across the ind

NSW Planning Reform: TOD SEPP Gazetted

The NSW Govt announced in December 2023 that a new SEPP would be written to encourage transport-oriented development (TOD) of higher-density homes around selected rail stations.The final details of this SEPP have now been announced and gazetted, so we can now better understand the precise

NSW Planning Reform: TOD SEPP

(posted on 25 Jan 2024)The NSW Government has been making waves with big announcements about planning reform proposals in the last few months. We at PropCode are especially interested in these announcements as they give us a chance to show the power of technology to help rapidly understand

NSW Planning Reform: The Details

(posted on 20 Dec 2023)The NSW Govt's recent proposal to enforce higher density near all transport hubs and centres has potential to transform many places across the state. Check out my earlier rapid analysis on the d

NSW Planning Reform: New Housing Rules

(posted on 28 Nov 2023)Big news on the housing crisis today: the NSW state government will override local planning controls to permit medium density residential buildings near tra

NSW Planning Reform: Build-to-Rent (BTR)

Build-to-rent (BTR) housing is part of the NSW Government’s strategies to diversify and increase housing availability. Build-to-rent housing refers to “large-scale, purpose-built rental housing that is held in single ownership and professionally managed.”Bui

How To Build Solar Panels on Your Property Without Council Approval

Did you know that solar panels can be installed on a building in NSW without requiring DA or Council approval? PropCode can help you take advantage of special rules in SEPPs and other planning documents. State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021 (<

Planning Rules are not Rock Solid

I just spent a couple of hours reading some thrilling court cases about planning regulations, and here's what I learned: planning rules are not as rock solid as you might think...House on a hillThese cases in NSW involved a new house on a long narrow block that slopes steeply down

How Does PropCode's Technology Work?

We talk a lot about technology at PropCode because we’re excited about what technology can do to help urban planning tasks!But maybe you have wondered how does the technology work exactly? How do we navigate the maze of document pages and data files to get the answers you are looking

Parramatta's New Harmonised Plan

PropCode Library: Simplifying Planning Policy ResearchIn today's ever-changing landscape of planning documents, PropCode Library stands as a unique resource that consolidates hundreds of these documents in one place. With constant updates and amendments being made to planning policies, o

How to Get a Renovation Approved

Are you a homeowner in NSW and want to improve your home with a beautiful new bathroom, an extra storey, or a new extension? PropCode is here to describe the different approval pathways for alterations and additions projects: exempt, complying development (CDC), or development application (DA).</

CDC: Easiest Way to Develop 1-2 Story Residential

Complying Development vs Development ApplicationDevelopment applications, DAs as they’re commonly known, are a way to obtain approval for property development from your local council. However, these applications can take months, with the NSW 2020 av

Save Time on Your Home Building Project with a CDC

If you're planning a knockdown rebuild, building a new home, or undertaking home renovations, you may be aware that obtaining council approval is an essential part of the process. But did you know that you can save a lot of time and money with a Complying Development Certificate (CDC)? In thi

Streamline your Next Duplex or Medium Density Project with CDC

Getting building approval can be a large unknown factor in any development project. development applications (DAs) can take months to get approved, and there is a lot of uncertainty in the process. It can significantly blow out a project timeline and increase project holding costs. On the other h

Some recent changes to CDC rules

If you regularly work on projects with CDC in NSW, you would need to keep an eye out for any rule changes so you're not making any costly mistakes. Here at PropCode we also check the rules frequently so we can ensure our automated platform is fully up to date!Here are some rules

How PropCode Helps You

We're introducing our new business PropCode, with a vision to provide automated, transparent, and trustworthy regulatory analysis to the property industry.