Did the planting area requirement change for my block?
The minimum planting area for single dwellings has not changed. A large block must have 30% of its area as planting space, a mid-sized block needs 20%, and a compact block needs 15%. Any area counted as planting space must be at least 2.5 metres wide and cannot include structures such as retaining walls, water tanks, hot water systems, or air-conditioning units. Artificial turf is not allowed in the required planting area, which must be made up of real landscaping and plants.
Reference: Planning (Residential Zones) Technical Specifications 2026 (NI2026-303) – Assessment Outcome 19.1 – Planning (Residential Zones) Technical Specifications 2026
Short Answer
No. A single dwelling on a large block still requires a planting area of 30% of the block area, and any area counted must have a minimum dimension of 2.5 m. Structures such as retaining walls, rainwater tanks, hot-water systems and heating and cooling appliances cannot sit within that area. Artificial turf is now prohibited within the planting area.
Detailed Explanation
The minimum planting area requirements remain unchanged for single dwellings: 30% of the block area for large blocks, 20% for mid-sized blocks, and 15% for compact blocks. The planting area must have a minimum dimension of 2.5 m and cannot include structures such as retaining walls, rainwater tanks, hot water systems, or heating and cooling appliances. The 2026 Technical Specifications also clarify that artificial turf is not permitted within the required planting area.
No minimum block size does not remove the need for planning assessment.
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