Landscape Plans
For Council
OUR LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTS ARE DRIVEN
BY A COMMITMENT TO
DESIGN EXCELLENCE
Whether your project is something simple, or a grand luxury design, we’ll take the stress out of the council DA approval process by drawing up a landscape design plan that fulfills your vision, and meets council requirements. FREE AMENDMENTS if it doesn’t pass first time!
Our team of certified landscape architects are qualified to complete:
- Plans for council DA approval (Development Application),
- Plans for CDC approval (Complying Development Codes),
- Plans to meet a developer’s Design Review Committee approval.
FREE AMENDMENTS if it doesn’t pass first time!
Do you need to submit landscape plans for council approval?
Are you are planning to:
- build in a new residential development,
- build a new home in an established area,
- do a knock-down rebuild?
If so, then you almost certainly need to submit professionally designed landscape plans to your local council to be put through the development application (DA) process for approval, so that they can confirm that your project meets their design guidelines as well as all statutory requirements.
Swimming Pools
If you are adding a swimming pool to an existing building then your pool builder will usually handle the necessary council approval process. In most cases an in-ground pool is handled as a ‘complying development’ which is a much faster process than the council Development Approval process. For more information about what qualifies as a ‘complying development’, check out the NSW Government website.
Above ground pools are treated the same as in-ground pools, so you will need to comply with the same safety fencing regulations, as well as getting council approval.
Do you need to submit landscape plans to your housing estate?
Most housing estate developers will require that you submit your landscaping plans to them so they can ensure that each property matches the overall character and design of the neighbourhood. You will need to get you plans okayed by your housing estate before you can submit your plans to the council for approval.
What’s included in our landscape plans?
Our landscape plans will be drawn to scale, and depending on your needs, they may include the following:
- Landscape area calculations
- Existing and proposed levels
- Proposed retaining
- Surface treatments including driveways
- Location of services
- Existing trees and landscape features
- Planting layout
- Planting plan and schedule including botanical and common names and suggested pot sizes
- Typical planting details
- Private Open Space
- General Landscaping Notes
FREE AMENDMENTS if it doesn’t pass first time!
Will a site visit be needed?
In the majority of cases, Apex Studios can complete the landscaping design and and draw up plans without having to do a visit to your site. We can use the existing property plans, photographs, and video (if needed), to get all the details that we will require. This means that even though we are based in Sydney, we can design for properties and councils that are located throughout regional NSW.
When don’t you need approval from council for landscaping?
In NSW, you can make quite a lot of landscaping changes without having to submit a Development Application to your your local council. Those changes include:
- Barbecues
- Paths
- Paving
- Pergolas
- Patios
- Decks
- Garden sheds,
- Carports
- Cubby houses,
- Water features.
If you want to double-check what is allowed, you can look in either your Local Environmental Plan (LEP) or in the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) Exempt and Complying Development Codes (CDC). Whatever structures you build will also have to comply with the safety standards specified by the Building Code of Australia (BCA).
Our landscape architects will produce a great looking design that passes DA process.
FREE AMENDMENTS if it doesn’t pass first time!
