Adaptable housing requirements in Sydney: council-by-council (current as at November 2026)
There is no statewide adaptable-housing percentage. Apartment Design Guide Objective 4Q-1 sets a benchmark of 20 percent of apartments incorporating Livable Housing Design Guidelines Silver-level universal design features. Objective 4Q-2 leaves adaptable housing to the relevant council policy. Those are different instruments. Across Greater Sydney, many DCPs go well beyond that Silver benchmark, set a separate AS 4299 percentage, or stack both. A few councils, including Canterbury-Bankstown, do not call up AS 4299 at all.
Last checked: 11 November 2026 (Australia/Sydney). A monthly watch on these DCPs is being set up. Always re-check the in-force instrument for the job. This page is a guide, not a substitute for opening the current DCP. Call (02) 9586 3111.
The 20 percent you remember is not an AS 4299 quota
Apartment Design Guide Objective 4Q-1 is a Silver universal-design benchmark. Objective 4Q-2 leaves adaptable housing to the relevant council policy. Universal design and adaptable housing are not interchangeable. Councils that "exceed 20 percent" may be exceeding the Silver benchmark, setting a higher or separate AS 4299 percentage, or requiring both.
NSW has not adopted NCC livable housing Parts G7 and H8 for Class 1a or Class 2 sole-occupancy units. A DCP can still name the Livable Housing Design Guidelines or the ABCB Liveable Housing Design Standard. See livable housing and apartment access reports. Seniors housing uses the Housing SEPP, not a DCP Class A/B/C table. See seniors housing.
How to read the table
Columns: LGA; DCP and clause; trigger; percentage and standard; verification status. Only Verified rows are settled. City of Sydney, Hawkesbury and Ku-ring-gai say "check with council / call (02) 9586 3111" with no settled percentage. Northern Beaches still uses three legacy DCPs (Manly, Warringah, Pittwater): three rows, not one. Precinct DCPs can differ from the LGA-wide control.
Greater Sydney council requirements
| LGA | DCP and clause | Trigger | Settled percentage and standard | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayside | DCP 2022 Amendment 2, s3.6.2 C2 to C4 (adopted 25 Mar 2026, effective 17 Apr 2026) | Adaptable C3: new MDH, shop-top and RFBs with 10 or more dwellings. C2: all new attached dwelling, MDH and RFB development. | C3: 20% AS 4299 Class C. C4: if there is no lift, adaptable dwellings on the ground floor. C2: listed universal design measures for all ground-floor dwellings (not an LHDG Silver percentage). | Verified |
| Blacktown | DCP 2015 Part C s6.9.11; DCP 2006 Part D s4.15 | Part C: RFBs. Part D: residential component of mixed use in business zones. | Part C: not less than 10% of units, or one unit, whichever is greater, designed for persons with a disability (not an AS 4299 quota). Part D mixed use: the same 10% or one unit, as adaptable units to AS 4299 (class not stated). | Verified |
| Blue Mountains | DCP 2015 Part E3.2 | Dual occupancy: at least one dwelling. Other new development of 3 or more dwellings. | Dual occ: at least 1. 3 to 5 dwellings: 2. 6 to 10: 3. 11+: 4 + 20% of dwellings beyond 10, rounded up. Classification Level C (AS 4299). | Verified |
| Burwood | DCP Amendment No. 4 (in force 1 Aug 2018) cl 3.2.19 P6 to P7 | Residential component of a development. | At least 10% adaptable to Class A or B (AS 4299). One AS 1428.2 car space per accessible or adaptable dwelling. | Verified |
| Camden | DCP 2019 s4.8 Control 5 | RFBs (and shop-top over two storeys assessed against RFB controls) with 10 or more dwellings. | Minimum 10% capable of adaptation to AS 4299-1995 (class not stated), rounded up. Lift if adaptable dwellings are above ground. Access-consultant certification required. | Verified |
| Campbelltown | Sustainable City DCP 2015 (Amdt 21 Sep 2024) Part 3 s3.7.2; Part 5 s5.5.3(b) and s5.6.1(a) | MDH in R3: 10 or more dwellings. RFB in R4, and mixed use in B3/B4. | Minimum 10% adaptable dwellings. No AS 4299 class stated. No LHDG quota found in these parts. | Verified |
| Canada Bay | DCP Part B B1.1 and Table B-A (Version 9, 26 Jun 2025) | Developments that include a lift. | 0 to 7 nil; 8 to 14 = 1; 15 to 21 = 2; 21 to 29 = 3; 30+ = 15% of total dwellings, to AS 4299 essential features (class letter not printed). The printed bands overlap at 21. | Verified |
| Canterbury-Bankstown | DCP 2023 Ch 5.1 (Bankstown) s11 and Ch 5.2 (Canterbury) s9, both June 2023 (Amended March 2026) | New dwellings only. RFB / shop-top: no nil band. MDH / attached: five or more. Boarding / co-living: both chapters. | No AS 4299. RFB and shop-top: at least 40% of new dwellings to LHDG, being at least 20% Silver and 20% Gold. Boarding and co-living: at least 20% of new rooms at Silver. MDH and attached (5+): listed features apply now; the 40% LHDG split applies only if NCC livable housing is adopted for Class 1a in NSW (it has not been). | Verified |
| City of Sydney | Check with council | Check with council | Check with council / call (02) 9586 3111 | Part-verified |
| Cumberland | DCP 2021 Part B5 s2.1 Table 9 | MDH, RFBs and residential component of mixed use (not single houses). | Fewer than 10: 1 adaptable dwelling. 10 to 20: 2. More than 20: 20%, unless justification is provided. AS 4299, class not stated. | Verified |
| Fairfield | City Wide DCP 2024 Amdt No. 2, Ch 6A, 7 and 10 | MDH; RFB / shop-top; boarding / co-living. | No AS 4299 quota. MDH and RFB use AS 1428 / BCA accessible-unit rates (RFB: one accessible unit per ten or part thereof, plus barrier-free access to at least 20% of dwellings). Boarding / co-living: at least 1 in 10 bedrooms adaptable. | Verified |
| Georges River (RFB / shop-top) | DCP 2021 Part 6.3, Amdt No. 6 (10 Jun 2024), cl 6.3.11 to 6.3.12 | RFBs and residential component of shop-top. Sliding scale starts at 5 units. | 5 to 10: 1; 11 to 20: 2; 21 to 30: 3; 31 to 40: 4; 41 to 50: 5; 51+: 6 + 10% of additional dwellings beyond 60, rounded up. AS 4299-1995, class not stated; each with an accessible car space. Plus 6.3.12: 20% of apartments to LHDG Silver. | Verified |
| Georges River (MDH / terraces / manor) | DCP 2021 Part 6.2, Amdt No. 6 (10 Jun 2024), cl 6.2.16 | Manor houses; multi dwelling housing (terraces); multi dwelling housing. Adaptable control: 5 or more dwellings. | At least 10% Adaptable Housing to AS 4299 (latest edition; class not stated). Plus Silver: manor houses, at least one ground-floor dwelling; terraces, 30% of dwellings; multi dwelling housing, all dwellings. | Verified |
| Hawkesbury | Check with council | Check with council | Check with council / call (02) 9586 3111 | Not retrieved |
| The Hills | DCP 2012 Part B s5 cl 3.21 (in force 15 May 2026) | RFBs (and shop-top where Part B s8 picks this up). Nil at 5 or fewer; starts at 6 dwellings. | 6 to 15: 1; 16 to 30: 2; more than 30: 10%. Class B if adaptable (AS 4299), or an Accessible dwelling to AS 1428.2. | Verified |
| Hornsby | DCP 2024 Parts 3 and 4 (Housing Choice clauses; last amended 23 Jun 2025) | Medium density and RFBs, and business-area / shop-top, with 10 or more dwellings. | At least 10% Adaptable Housing (AS 4299 is in the glossary; class letter not restated) plus at least 20% Universal Design housing to LHDG Silver. | Verified |
| Hunters Hill | Consolidated DCP 2013 cl 5.2.4 | Residential developments other than dwelling houses. No numeric percentage. | Should provide adaptable housing to AS 4299 Class C. Do not invent a percentage. | Verified |
| Inner West | DCP Part 2 cl 2.17 C1 to C6 | All new dwellings for C1 to C2; apartments also in C5. C6 scale starts at 8 dwellings; 20% at 30+. | C2: minimum 10% adaptable to AS 4299-1995 Class C. C6 numeric schedule: 0 to 7 nil; 8 to 14 = 1; 15 to 21 = 2; 22 to 29 = 3; 30+ = 20%. C1: all new dwellings to ABCB LHDS 2022 unless exempted for site gradient or other site / spatial constraints. | Verified |
| Ku-ring-gai | Check with council | Check with council | Check with council / call (02) 9586 3111 | Not retrieved |
| Lane Cove | DCP Part D s5.7 (amd 28 Sep 2023); Part C C3 | Part D: residential component in MU1 if dwellings exceed 9. Part C RFBs: no adaptable quota found. | Part D: minimum 10% adaptable housing if dwellings exceed 9 (class not stated). Part C C3: no adaptable percentage found. No LHDG quota found in Parts C or D. | Verified |
| Liverpool | DCP 2008 Parts 3.7 and 4.2.10 | RFBs outside and inside the city centre. No low-number exemption. Does not apply to boarding houses, seniors, group homes, co-living, build-to-rent, or social-housing-provider RFBs under the named Housing SEPP path. | At least 10% of apartments capable of being adapted, including AS 4299-1995 (class not stated), with a mix of bedroom types. The clause notes this is different from ADG 4Q. | Verified |
| Mosman | Residential DCP 2012 (amd Aug 2026) s5.11; Business Centres DCP 2012 (amd Dec 2024) s6.3 | Adaptable: multiple dwelling developments, greater of all ground-floor dwellings or, where there are 5 or more dwellings, 20% rounded up. Universal design: all dwellings in any new mixed use and multiple dwelling development, including dual occupancy. | Class C of AS 4299:1995 at that greater-of rate, independently certified. All dwellings in those new mixed-use and multiple-dwelling developments to meet or exceed LHDG Silver (also independently certified). | Verified |
| North Sydney | DCP 2025 Part E s1.2.2 (in force 22 Sep 2025) | MDH, RFBs and shop-top with more than 5 dwellings. | Minimum 20% adaptable housing (AS 4299 cited in a footnote; 2025 text does not restate Class C). P1: all new DA dwellings must satisfy LHDG Silver. | Verified |
| Northern Beaches (Manly) | Manly DCP 2013 (amd 15 Sep 2025) cl 3.6.3.1 | Residential accommodation containing 4 or more dwellings. | At least 25% of dwellings to AS 4299 (class not stated). | Verified |
| Northern Beaches (Warringah) | Warringah DCP 2011 (amd 15 Sep 2025) Part D18 Requirement 9 | Residential development of at least five dwellings. | 10% of dwellings, rounded up, capable of being adapted, Class C under AS 4299. | Verified |
| Northern Beaches (Pittwater) | Pittwater 21 DCP C1.9 | MDH, boarding houses, group homes and hostels excluding Warriewood Valley; RFB, shop-top and mixed-use residential; other Warriewood Valley residential; seniors living. | MDH / boarding / group / hostel ex-Warriewood: 50% Class B. Warriewood Valley residential not elsewhere identified: 25% Class B. RFB, shop-top and mixed-use residential: 20% LHDG Silver, not AS 4299. Seniors: Housing SEPP. | Verified |
| Parramatta | DCP 2023 Part 3 Table 3.1.3.1 C.01 to C.02 | MDH, RFBs and residential component of mixed use. Applies from the first dwelling. | Fewer than 10: 1 adaptable dwelling. 10 or more: 15%, rounded up. Class C (AS 4299). Some Part 8 precincts differ. Do not treat this as every precinct. | Verified |
| Penrith | DCP 2014 C2 s5.20 (RFBs); s4.21 (MDH) and s2.21 (dual occupancy) checked separately | The numeric quota is for residential flat buildings only. | RFBs: 10% of all dwellings, or a minimum of one dwelling, whichever is greater, to AS 4299-1995 (class not stated). Ground floor where possible; access-consultant certification required. MDH s4.21 requires dimensions consistent with AS 1428.1 and AS 4299-1995 and certification, but does not state a 10% quota. Dual occupancy s2.21 has no AS 4299 percentage. | Verified |
| Randwick | DCP Stage 2 Part C3 (Final, 27 Jul 2026; endorsed 30 Jun 2026, commenced 27 Jul 2026) controls 2 and 3 | Adaptable: new MDH, shop-top and RFBs with 10 or more dwellings. Universal: all ground-floor dwellings. | Minimum 20% adaptable to Class C under AS 4299, in addition to control 2(a). No lift: adaptable dwellings on the ground floor. Control 2(a): all ground-floor dwellings incorporate listed measures adapted from the Livable Housing Design Standard 2022. | Verified |
| Ryde | DCP 2014 Part 9.2 cl 4.1.3 and s6.2 | Class 2 buildings with 3 or more habitable storeys and 10 or more units (both tests). | 10 to 15: 1; 16 to 20: 2; 21 to 30: 3; 10% thereafter. Class A (AS 4299). | Verified |
| Strathfield | DCP General Residential, 1 Sep 2026, C9.3.2 | Houses, secondary dwellings, dual occupancies, multi-dwelling, terraces, manor homes, with 4 or more dwellings. Apartment / RFB part not retrieved. | No AS 4299 numeric requirement in this part. 25% of dwellings to LHDG Silver. Do not extend this rate to apartments. | Verified for this part only |
| Sutherland Shire | DCP 2015 Chapter 5 Multi Dwellings (May 2026) ss 8.2 to 8.3 and Chapter 6 Residential Flat Buildings ss 8.2 to 8.3 | MDH in R2, R3 and R4 (Ch 5) and RFBs (Ch 6). Adaptable: none for 3 to 5 dwellings; 20% from 6. Livable: 1 dwelling for 3 to 5; 10% from 6. Fractions of 0.5 or less round down. | Both chapters: 6 or more dwellings, 20% adaptable to AS 4299 Class C, plus (separately) 10% livable dwellings to LHDG Silver. Shop-top and centre chapters were not opened in this check. | Verified for MDH and RFBs |
| Waverley | DCP 2022 Part B6 cl 6.2 and 6.3 | Adaptable: 10 or more dwellings. Universal: new medium or high density. | 20% of dwellings, rounded to the nearest whole number, to AS 4299-1995 (class not stated). One accessible car space per adaptable dwelling, as a strata lot. 6.3: all dwellings in new medium or high density to incorporate listed features modelled on LHDG Silver. | Verified |
| Willoughby | WDCP May 2026 Part B s4.3.3 | Manor houses, attached dwellings, MDH, RFBs, and residential components of shop-top and mixed use. Rates vary by storeys. Round up at 0.5 or more of a dwelling. | 10% of single-storey dwellings; 25% of two-storey buildings; 33% of three-storey buildings; 50% of RFBs greater than 3 storeys; 50% of mixed use and shop-top if a lift is provided. Class C required; Class A and B encouraged (AS 4299-1995). | Verified |
| Wollondilly | DCP 2016 Volume 4, MDH control 16 and RFB control 22 | MDH: one dwelling per five, rounded down (bites from 5). RFB: percentage of total units. | MDH: one adaptable dwelling per five, to AS 4299 (class not stated). RFB: minimum 10% to AS 4299, plus a separate minimum 20% to LHDG Silver. | Verified |
| Woollahra | DCP 2015 Chapter E8 C1 to C2 (last amended 7 Dec 2020) | C1: attached dwellings, MDH, terraces, manor houses, RFBs and shop-top with 10 or more dwellings. | At least 10% to Class A under AS 4299. | Verified |
Highest verified rates and classes
- Highest verified class: Ryde and Woollahra, Class A. Burwood is Class A or B. Many others are Class C, or name AS 4299 with no class letter.
- Highest verified adaptable rates include Willoughby's height-based scale (up to 50% of RFBs greater than three storeys, and 50% of lift-served mixed use / shop-top, Class C); Pittwater MDH excluding Warriewood Valley at 50% Class B; Manly at 25%; Mosman (greater of all ground-floor dwellings or 20% where there are five or more, Class C) plus 100% LHDG Silver in new mixed-use and multiple-dwelling development.
- Councils that do not mandate AS 4299 in the verified material: Canterbury-Bankstown (LHDG 20% Silver + 20% Gold for new RFB and shop-top dwellings); Fairfield (AS 1428 / BCA accessible units); Strathfield general residential (25% Silver); Pittwater RFB / shop-top (20% Silver).
What to do with the schedule
Nominate the units against the instrument the DCP actually names. Silver units and adaptable units can overlap; schedule them separately. AS 4299 Class C work needs pre- and post-adaptation plans. See adaptable housing rather than repeating the Class C themes. Accessible parking often sits with the adaptable unit. Check the DCP. The access report still has to cover NCC common-area access. See apartment access reports.
How Sydney Access Consultants helps
ACAA Accredited Member #435, based at Suite 7/438 Forest Road, Hurstville. Regular work in Sutherland Shire, Georges River, Bayside and Canterbury-Bankstown. See Sutherland Shire and St George, Bayside and Canterbury-Bankstown and locations.
Products: AS 4299 reports, livable housing assessments against the named LHDG or LHDS instrument, and DA / CC access reports. The first job is to name the right instrument. Call (02) 9586 3111. Free initial consultation is a plan review only.
Frequently asked questions
Does every Sydney council require 20 percent adaptable housing to AS 4299?
No. The 20 percent figure most teams remember is the Apartment Design Guide Silver benchmark, not an AS 4299 quota. Council DCPs set adaptable housing, and many go further or use a different instrument.
What does Apartment Design Guide Objective 4Q-1 actually require?
A benchmark of 20 percent of apartments incorporating Livable Housing Design Guidelines Silver-level universal design features. Adaptable housing is left to the relevant council policy under Objective 4Q-2.
Does Canterbury-Bankstown still require AS 4299 adaptable units?
No. The current DCP chapters for residential flat buildings and shop-top housing do not call up AS 4299. They call up Livable Housing Design Guidelines Silver and Gold levels.
What is the difference between AS 4299 Class A, B and C?
Class C is the class most councils name for adaptable dwellings. Class A is the highest. The explainer is on adaptable housing. This page does not reprint the Standard's feature lists.
Call (02) 9586 3111 for a fee.