Duplex design in Sydney: dual occupancy drawings and approvals

A duplex has to satisfy the planning controls first and the floor plan second. Here is how the design work runs.

Feasibility comes first

Whether a duplex or dual occupancy is allowed depends on zoning, lot size and council controls. A site review and feasibility check against those controls comes before any concept design, so you know what the lot can take.

The approval documents

A duplex is approved through a development application (DA) or a complying development certificate (CDC), depending on whether the design meets the complying standards. The drawings include site plan, floor plans, elevations and sections, plus the reports the site needs. See DA vs CDC drawings.

Council controls to design around

Each council sets controls through its local environmental plan (LEP) and development control plan (DCP), covering setbacks, car parking, landscaping, privacy and building height. Sydney councils such as Sutherland Shire, Georges River, Bayside, Inner West and Northern Beaches each have their own. See Sydney councils and design approvals.

The construction set

After approval, a construction set of working drawings, specifications and schedules lets a builder price and build both dwellings. Engineering and consultant documents are coordinated into the one set.

Working with a designer

Duplex design in Sydney covers both DA and CDC applications for duplexes and dual occupancy.

Common questions