Every planning control identified for any lot | Every planning rule & overlay cross-referenced in one query | Approval likelihood scored for every control | Conflicts and overrides resolved automatically | Every answer cited to the source clause | Ask planning questions in plain English | Results in under 1 second | Every planning control identified for any lot | Every planning rule & overlay cross-referenced in one query | Approval likelihood scored for every control | Conflicts and overrides resolved automatically | Every answer cited to the source clause | Ask planning questions in plain English | Results in under 1 second |
Suburb planning guide · Updated 2026-04-27

Russell Lea, NSW 2046 Zoning, development potential & planning controls

Low Density Residential dominant. Median sale $2.63M over the last 24 months. 88% of decided DAs approved.

Dominant zone
R2
Low Density Residential
Median sale (24m)
$2.63M
166 sales
DA approval rate
88%
126 of 143 approved
Total lots
1,516
Marketplace

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Zoning

What you can build in Russell Lea

Russell Lea is dominated by R2Low Density Residential. Land use rules, height, FSR, and permitted developments are set per zone in the Local Environmental Plan and refined by the Development Control Plan.

R2
Dominant
R2 Low Density Residential 93.5%
R3 Medium Density Residential 4.7%
E1 Local Centre 1.5%
SP2 Infrastructure 0.2%
RE1 Public Recreation 0.1%
Avg max height
8.0 m

Limit varies by lot — check your address for the exact figure.

Avg max FSR
0.51:1

Floor Space Ratio — total floor area as a multiple of lot area.

Use mix
Residential98%
Commercial2%

Location

Where Russell Lea sits

Russell Lea 2046 covers an undefined area within City of Canada Bay Council.

Overlays © NSW Government
Council
City of Canada Bay Council
Postcode
2046
Area
Total lots
1,516

Drill into any lot in Russell Lea

Open the interactive map — click any address to see its zone, height, FSR, overlays, and approval likelihood.

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Development potential

Where the upside is in Russell Lea

We score every lot for development signal — under-built relative to the controls, eligible for a granny flat, or sized for subdivision.

Underdeveloped
323

lots with remaining GFA capacity

granny flat eligible
1,303

under SEPP (Housing) 2021

Subdivision potential
223

lots that may support subdivision

Site assembly
6

adjoining lots with combined upside

Total dev potential
1,497 lots

show at least one development signal

Rezoning signal score
44.2 /100

average uplift signal across the suburb

Theoretical capacity if every lot built to its limit: 4,696 dwellings, with 162,608 m² of unused GFA across the suburb.

Own a property in Russell Lea?

Check your lot's exact development potential — height, FSR, granny flat, subdivision, dual-occ.

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Constraints & risks

What could stop you in Russell Lea

5% of lots carry heritage controls.

Suburb-wide percentages — your specific lot may have all, some, or none of these.

Flood-affected None

Mapped flood-prone land

Bushfire-prone None

RFS bushfire-prone land mapping

Heritage controls 4.9%

Heritage item or Conservation Area

Near contaminated land None

Within 100 m of EPA-listed site

Threatened ecology (TEC) None

Mapped TEC vegetation

Sea-level rise exposure None

Coastal hazard mapping

Flight noise contour None

ANEF / aircraft noise

Alexander Estate Agents

Real estate agent · serves Russell Lea, NSW

89/63a Barnstaple Rd, Russell Lea NSW 2046

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Market

Russell Lea property market

Sales, rent, and yield data drawn from NSW Property Sales Information and rental bond data over the past 24 months.

Median sale price (24m)
$2,627,500
166 sales · land value $2.27M
Median rent (house)
$1,000 / wk
Houses
Gross rental yield
1.6%
House, gross of costs

DA activity

Development applications in Russell Lea

143 development applications for Russell Lea addresses were decided by City of Canada Bay Council over the past 24 months. 126 approved — a 88% approval rate. Average processing time: 56 days.

88%
Approved
DAs lodged (24m)
143
Approved
126
New dwelling DAs
160
Building approvals (12m)
7

Demographics & lifestyle

Who lives in Russell Lea

ABS Census 2021 population data combined with lot-level amenity, healthcare, lifestyle, and crime indices.

Green cover
32%
Amenity score
72.6 /100

Walkable amenity within 1 km

Healthcare access
68.8 /100

GP / hospital / pharmacy proximity

Lifestyle score
75.7 /100

Cafés, parks, schools, transport

FAQs

Common questions about Russell Lea

What's the zoning in Russell Lea 2046?

Russell Lea is dominated by the R2 (Low Density Residential) zone, which covers 1,418 of 1,516 lots (94%). The full mix is: R2 Low Density Residential (94%), R3 Medium Density Residential (5%), E1 Local Centre (2%), SP2 Infrastructure (0%), RE1 Public Recreation (0%).

What's the height limit and FSR in Russell Lea?

Across Russell Lea, the average maximum building height is 8.0 m and the average maximum Floor Space Ratio (FSR) is 0.51:1. Individual lots can vary materially — height and FSR are set per zone in the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and can be modified by overlays. For an exact figure on a specific address, generate a planning report.

Can I build a granny flat in Russell Lea?

Yes — 1,303 lots in Russell Lea appear eligible for a granny flat under SEPP (Housing) 2021, based on lot size, zoning, and frontage. Eligibility is lot-specific: get a planning report on your address to confirm.

What's the median property price in Russell Lea?

The median sale price in Russell Lea over the past 24 months is $2,627,500, across 166 sales. Median unimproved land value is $2,270,000.

What's the median rent in Russell Lea?

Median weekly rent for a house in Russell Lea is $1,000. Gross rental yield works out to 1.6%.

What's the development application approval rate in City of Canada Bay Council?

City of Canada Bay Council decided 143 development applications for Russell Lea addresses over the past 24 months, with 126 approved (88% approval rate). Average processing time is 56 days. Processing time depends heavily on application complexity, council backlog, and whether the application requires referral to other agencies.

What planning constraints apply in Russell Lea?

Across Russell Lea, 5% with heritage controls. These are suburb-wide percentages — every lot has its own combination. A planning report on a specific address shows exactly which controls apply.

What's the development potential of Russell Lea?

1,497 of 1,516 lots in Russell Lea show identifiable development potential — under-developed for the planning controls, eligible for a granny flat, or capable of subdivision. Average rezoning signal score: 44.2 / 100.

Creative Property Stylist

Interior designer · serves Russell Lea, NSW

McCulloch St, Russell Lea NSW 2046

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Get a planning report for any address in Russell Lea

Suburb-wide stats are useful for context. For a buy-or-walk decision on a specific lot, you need every control, every constraint, and every clause cited to source.

Run a report — from A$29

14-section report · LEP + SEPP + DCP cross-referenced · cited to source

Methodology & sources

Zoning, height, FSR, and overlays parsed from the City of Canada Bay Council Local Environmental Plan, applicable State Environmental Planning Policies, and the Development Control Plan. Property sales drawn from NSW Property Sales Information. DA history aggregated from the NSW Planning Portal. Heritage, flood, bushfire, contaminated land, TEC, sea-level rise, and aircraft noise overlays from the NSW Spatial Services and EPA registers. Population, age, income, and tenure from ABS Census 2021. Aggregated by ZoneDSS · last updated 2026-04-27.

Suburb-wide statistics — your specific lot may vary. Always run a planning report on the actual address before making a decision. How ZoneDSS works →