Lane Cove at a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Council | Lane Cove Council |
| Postcode | 2066 (shared with Lane Cove North, Lane Cove West, Riverview and Linley Point) |
| Typical homes | Federation, interwar and post-war houses on sloping blocks; apartments around the village and towards St Leonards |
| Heritage | Mainly individually listed items under the Lane Cove LEP 2009, with more being added |
| Watch for | Bushfire-prone land and bushland-edge controls; sandstone slopes; drainage and leaf-filled gutters |
Building next to bushland in Lane Cove
Lane Cove has bushland reserves and creek corridors through and around its streets, and the land beside them is often mapped as bushfire-prone. Under the NSW mapping guideline, the mapped buffer around the most hazardous forest and heath vegetation is 100 metres, and 30 metres for lower-risk types. You can check your block on the NSW Planning Portal's spatial viewer.
If your block is mapped, new decks, extensions, windows and some cladding may need to meet a higher construction standard based on a bushfire attack level (BAL) assessment. Lane Cove Council's DCP also has controls for land next to bushland, covering things like stormwater, erosion and planting. Tell trades early, because it changes the materials they quote. Embers can travel well beyond the mapped buffer, so clear gutters, gutter guards and sealed gaps help any house near the bush.
Heritage in Lane Cove
Lane Cove relies heavily on individually listed heritage items rather than large conservation areas. Council's heritage reviews have assessed Federation houses and other buildings across Lane Cove, Greenwich, Northwood and Longueville, and a recent planning proposal sought to add 19 new items to the LEP and remove 3.
That means a house that wasn't listed a few years ago might be listed now, or be proposed for listing. Check Schedule 5 of the Lane Cove LEP 2009 and your Section 10.7 certificate before you plan a demolition, a second storey or a new front fence. Being next to a listed item can also affect what you can build.
Slopes, sandstone and water
Many Lane Cove blocks fall steeply towards creeks and the river, often with sandstone close to the surface. That leads to a familiar set of jobs:
- Retaining walls and steps, often near a boundary. Our guide to retaining walls and neighbours explains the rules.
- Decks that create flat outdoor space on a slope
- Drainage behind walls and under houses, where water runs along the rock
- Gutter cleaning and guards, because tall trees drop leaves year-round
Access can be tricky on steep driveways, so mention it when you describe the job. Apartment owners around the village and towards St Leonards face strata rules instead, so share your by-laws with trades. See the North Shore hub.
Popular jobs in Lane Cove
Deck builders
Create a deck that works with your home, outdoor circulation and site conditions.
Get quotesRetaining wall construction
Plan soil retention, drainage and boundaries together.
Get quotesGutter cleaning
Keep gutters and downpipes clear so heavy rain runs where it should, and catch small problems before they become big ones.
Get quotesBathroom renovations
Plan a bathroom around layout, water management, ventilation and finishes before comparing prices.
Get quotesHome extensions
Plan additional space around your existing structure, household needs and site constraints.
Get quotesRoof restoration
Understand whether repairing and restoring your existing roof is a sensible alternative to replacement.
Get quotesLocal service guides
Common questions
Is my Lane Cove block bushfire-prone?
Check the NSW Planning Portal's spatial viewer or your Section 10.7 certificate. Land in or near Lane Cove's bushland reserves and creek corridors is often mapped. If yours is, new building work may need a bushfire attack level assessment, which sets construction standards for decks, windows and cladding.
Has my Lane Cove house been heritage listed?
Check Schedule 5 of the Lane Cove LEP 2009 on the NSW legislation website or the Planning Portal, and your planning certificate. Council has been adding items through heritage reviews, so a listing may be recent. If you're unsure, Lane Cove Council's planners can confirm the status before you design anything.
Do I need approval to remove a tree in Lane Cove?
Usually, for anything other than small or exempt species. Lane Cove Council protects trees on private land, and bushland-edge blocks have extra controls. Apply before pruning or removing, and get an arborist's advice if a tree is close to a planned deck, wall or extension.