- RZ1 Suburban zone: smallest new lot 350 m² and 10 m frontage.
- RZ1 Suburban zone: up to 8.5 m high and 2 storeys.
- RZ1 Suburban zone: front setback 6 m, side 3 m and site cover 45%.
- RZ2 Suburban Density zone: smallest new lot 300 m² and 10 m frontage.
- RZ2 Suburban Density zone: up to 10.5 m high and 3 storeys.
- RZ2 Suburban Density zone: front setback 6 m, side 3 m and site cover 45%.
- RZ3 Residential Transition zone: smallest new lot 275 m² and 10 m frontage.
- RZ3 Residential Transition zone: up to 14 m high and 4 storeys.
- RZ3 Residential Transition zone: front setback 6 m, side 3 m and site cover 50%.
- Example block: 5 Keartland Street, Page, 726 m² in the Suburban zone.
- Drawn there: knock-down rebuild and side-by-side pair.
- Left out: single-storey row of 3, two-storey row and four-home row, each with its reason.
- People within 15 km: about 448,600.
Main residential zones
The ACT's numbers, the same across the state. Your block's own zone and overlays come up when you check its address.
| Zone | Smallest new lot (a house) | Frontage | Height | Storeys | Front setback | Side setback | Site cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RZ1 Suburban zone | 350 m² | 10 m | 8.5 m | 2 | 6 m | 3 m | 45% |
| RZ2 Suburban Density zone | 300 m² | 10 m | 10.5 m | 3 | 6 m | 3 m | 45% |
| RZ3 Residential Transition zone | 275 m² | 10 m | 14 m | 4 | 6 m | 3 m | 50% |
Rules read on 23 October 2026: Territory Plan 2023 republication R47, effective 2 Oct 2026; Residential Zones Technical Specifications NI2026-303, commenced 1 Jul 2026; Subdivision Technical Specifications NI2026-304, commenced 1 Jul 2026. Clauses: F01-11 A new block in RZ1: at least 350 m², unless each block already holds a lawfully built home (Territory Plan, Subdivision Policy, requirement 11). A mandatory rule.; SS1-2.1 ACT Subdivision Technical Specifications 2026, 2.1; ZS1-14.1 ACT Residential Zones Technical Specifications 2026, 14.1; E01-6 Storeys by zone: a house 2 or 3, two or more homes 2 in RZ1 up to 7 in RZ5 (Territory Plan, Residential Zones Policy, requirement 6). A mandatory rule.; ZS1-T4 ACT Residential Zones Technical Specifications 2026, Table 4; E01-8 Territory Plan, Residential Zones Policy, requirement 8; ZS1-T9 ACT Residential Zones Technical Specifications 2026, Table 9; SS1-2.2 ACT Subdivision Technical Specifications 2026, 2.2; ZS1-T10 ACT Residential Zones Technical Specifications 2026, Table 10.
A real block in Canberra: 5 Keartland Street, Page
The lot is 726 m² in the Suburban zone, with about 20.7 m of street frontage. What the design engine drew on it:
- Knock-down rebuild: 1 home, 1 storey, 4 bedrooms, about 225 m² each
- Side-by-side pair: 2 homes, 2 storeys, 3 bedrooms, about 185.1 m² each
What it left out, and why:
- Single-storey row of 3: A row of 3 needs at least 24.3 m of street frontage: lots of 9.1 m, 6.1 m, 9.1 m. Each end lot needs a home as wide as the one between (6.1 m) plus the outer side setback (ZS1-T9 3 m). That is the narrowest lot this row home design works on (6.1 m). This block has 20.74 m of street frontage.
- Two-storey row: A row of 3 needs at least 22.5 m of street frontage (3 lots of at least 5.5 m). This block has 20.74 m of street frontage.
- Four-home row: A row of 4 needs at least 28 m of street frontage (4 lots of at least 5.5 m). This block has 20.74 m of street frontage.
Designs drawn
Knock-down rebuild, Side-by-side pair, Single-storey row of 3, Two-storey row and Four-home row: each on the real lot, checked against its zone.
Check my address free See what fits
Agent reports: ACT · Design brief
Last updated: 14 November 2026. Guide only. Confirm all results with a council planner before you rely on them.