Planning Controls
Decisions about development on the Northern Beaches are influenced by state and local planning legislation, strategies, controls and policies designed to address a variety of specific planning issues.
There are a number of different rules and regulations depending on where you live and where you want to build. The majority of these are outlined in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs), the Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) and the Development Control Plans (DCPs).
There are also a number of maps, plans and policies designed to address specific issues like medium density housing in our shopping centres, heritage and hazard affected areas. Links to these documents and tools can be found below.
- Northern Beaches Council Mapping
- Northern Beaches Council Policies
- Northern Beaches Community Participation Plan
Links to LEPs & DCPs
Former Warringah
- Warringah LEP 2011
- Warringah LEP 2000 – applies to land known as ‘deferred matter’. The Warringah Local Environmental Plan (WLEP 2000) was replaced by WLEP 2011 on 9 December 2011. However, certain parts of Warringah have been ‘deferred’ by the State Government and are not covered by the current WLEP 2011.
- Warringah DCP 2011 – contains planning controls not included in LEP 2011. The documents should be read together.
- Warringah DCP 2000
Former Pittwater
Former Manly
Draft Northern Beaches LEP and DCP
The draft Northern Beaches Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and draft Development Control Plan (DCP) are on public exhibition from 20 July to 30 August 2026. The draft LEP must be considered in DA assessments, alongside existing Manly, Pittwater or Warringah controls. The weight given to the draft LEP depends on the nature of the proposal and how advanced the draft LEP is in the approval process. The draft DCP is not considered in DA assessment. View the draft plans.
