Every landscape plan we prepare has a Site Details box in the top corner showing three numbers: the total site area, the landscape area your council requires, and the landscape area we've proposed. Here's how those numbers work.
The calculation
The required landscape area is a percentage of your total site area:
Required landscape area = total site area × required percentage
For example, a 450 m² lot with a 30% requirement needs at least 135 m² of landscaping.
On our plans, the landscape area excludes hard surfaces such as the driveway, paths, paved alfresco areas and the house itself. It's made up of soft landscaping: lawn and planted garden beds.
Real examples from recent approved plans
| Area | Site area | Required | Proposed |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Gables, Box Hill | 451.5 m² | 30% (135.45 m²) | 36% (162.0 m²) |
| The Gables, Box Hill | 714.2 m² | 30% (214.2 m²) | 40% (285.0 m²) |
| Leppington | 554.9 m² | 25% (138.7 m²) | 30.8% (180.95 m²) |
| Figtree Hill, Mt Gilead | 540.0 m² | 20% (108.0 m²) | 35% (190.0 m²) |
| Merrylands (knock down & rebuild) | 200.0 m² | 30% (60.0 m²) | 93.0 m² |
Requirements in these examples range from 20% to 30%, depending on the council and estate. We always aim to exceed the minimum comfortably, so small changes during construction don't put you under.
How to reach your percentage
- Choose turf over paving where you can, especially in the rear yard.
- Use the side setbacks. Mulched garden beds along side boundaries add area that would otherwise be wasted.
- Keep the driveway efficient. Extra-wide driveways and large paved areas eat into your landscape area quickly.
- Check gravel and pebble areas. Whether decorative gravel counts as landscaping varies, so we confirm it against your guidelines.
Good to know: requirements differ between estates and can change. Your developer's design guidelines and council's DCP always take priority — we check both for every plan we prepare.
Need a plan?
Our residential landscape plans are a fixed $450* for new homes on land up to 550 sqm, with free amendments for approval and delivery in 3–5 business days. Send us your site plan to get started.