Local Environmental Plans (LEP)

As of 1 December 2021, a reference to an Environment Protection zone E1, E2, E3 or E4 in a document should be taken to be a reference to a Conservation zone C1, C2, C3 or C4. For further information please download the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Amendment (Land Use Zones) Order 2021.

Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) are the main legal documents that guide Council’s land use and planning decisions.  LEPs define different land use zones and the types of developments that are permitted or prohibited in each zone. They include maps showing zones, minimum lot sizes and other development standards and rules that apply to different parts of the local government area.

Ballina Shire has two active LEPs:

• Ballina LEP 2012
• Ballina LEP 1987 (applies to areas deferred from the Ballina LEP 2012)

Ballina Local Environmental Plan 2012 (BLEP 2012) 

The Ballina Local Environmental Plan 2012 (BLEP 2012) was published on the NSW Legislation website and became effective on 4 February 2013. 

The BLEP 2012 is the primary planning tool for the majority of the Ballina Shire and is based on the requirements of the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order 2006.  The BLEP 2012 includes a number of mapping layers which need to be read in conjunction with the written instrument.

Ballina Local Environmental Plan 1987 (BLEP 1987)

The Ballina Local Environmental Plan 1987 (BLEP 1987) continues to apply to land that has been deferred from the BLEP 2012. 

A number of areas with environmental values throughout the shire were deferred from being zoned in the BLEP 2012, pending the outcome of the Department of Planning and Environment’s Northern Councils E Zone Review. 

• New C Zones Background factsheet (pdf) - details how and where C zones apply and why environmental zones were deferred from BLEP 2012.