Hot water and solar energy systems

The following additional standards apply specifically to hot water systems:

• If the system is installed externally and on or in a heritage item, draft heritage item, heritage conservation area or draft heritage conservation area, it must not be located on a roof and must be located in the rear yard.

Please refer to these provisions in the State Policy in the State Policy for development standards relating to hot water, systems, including noise level requirements under exempt development.

Solar energy systems

Solar energy systems may be installed as exempt or complying development under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021 (the ISEPP).

A solar energy system means any of the following systems:

• photovoltaic electricity generating system,
• solar hot water system,
• solar air heating system.

Other considerations

• If you propose to remove or prune any existing trees or vegetation, you should contact your council first to make sure you don’t need approval for this.

• Works must be structurally adequate, installed in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications and comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA).

• Any structures that would be located on public land, or on or over a public road (including temporary structures), must have separate approval from the relevant council, or Roads and Maritime Services under the Roads Act 1993 and the Local Government Act 1993.
• Generally, exempt development cannot be carried out on:
  • land that is, or on which there is, an item that is listed on the State Heritage Register under the Heritage Act 1977 or that is subject to an interim heritage order under that Act (unless an exemption has been granted under section 57 of the Heritage Act 1977);
  • a critical habitat of an endangered species, population or ecological community under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 or the Fisheries Management Act 1994;
  • a wilderness area under the Wilderness Act 1987.