14suburbs mapped in Upper North ShoreAcross 2 councils — which one you lodge with changes the process and the timeline.

New South Wales · Region

Home builders in Upper North Shore

Minimum lot sizes across these 14 suburbs run from 500 m² to 900 m². That figure decides whether a second dwelling or a subdivision is even a question on your block.

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14Upper North Shore suburbs read parcel by parcel from New South Wales's own planning data

2Councils across the region. Which one you lodge with changes the process and the timeline

4Distinct overlay families mapped across these suburbs, each one something a builder prices differently

Upper North Shore suburb by suburb

Suburb	Residential zones	Height limit	Bushfire-prone	Overlays
Asquith	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density, R4 High Density	10.5m	Mapped	2
Beecroft	R2 Low Density, R4 High Density	—	Mapped	3
Berowra	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density	—	Mapped	3
Berowra Heights	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density	—	Mapped	3
Gordon	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density, R4 High Density	9.5m	Mapped	2
Killara	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density, R4 High Density	9.5m	Mapped	2
Lindfield	R1 General, R2 Low Density, R4 High Density	9.5m	Mapped	2
Pennant Hills	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density, R4 High Density	8.5m	Mapped	4
Pymble	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density, R4 High Density	9.5m	Mapped	2
Roseville	R1 General, R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density	9.5m	Mapped	2
St Ives	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density, R4 High Density	9.5m	Mapped	2
St Ives Chase	R2 Low Density	9.5m	Mapped	0
Turramurra	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density, R4 High Density	9.5m	Mapped	2
Wahroonga	R1 General, R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density	9.5m	Mapped	4

Reading the table

Heritage mapping runs from 439 in Wahroonga down to none in St Ives Chase.
4 overlay families are mapped across the region; Pennant Hills carries the most at 4.

What is mapped across Upper North Shore

Mapped only in some suburbs	Where (in the suburb, not on a given block)
Heritage — Item - General	Asquith, Beecroft, Berowra, Berowra Heights, Gordon, Killara, Lindfield, Pennant Hills, Pymble, Roseville, St Ives, Turramurra and Wahroonga
Heritage — Conservation Area - General	Beecroft, Gordon, Killara, Lindfield, Pennant Hills, Pymble, Roseville, St Ives, Turramurra and Wahroonga
Heritage — Item - Landscape	Asquith, Beecroft, Berowra, Berowra Heights, Pennant Hills and Wahroonga
Heritage — Item - Archaeological	Berowra, Berowra Heights, Pennant Hills and Wahroonga

Which Upper North Shore suburb suits which build

Room to move
Berowra is the largest at 8.3 km², St Ives Chase the most compact at 3.5 km².
Fewest planning controls
St Ives Chase, with 0 overlay families mapped against 4 in Pennant Hills.
Knockdown rebuild without a heritage question
St Ives Chase — no heritage records intersect it. Wahroonga carries 439.
Biggest minimum lot size
Gordon at 900-999 m² minimum, against 500-524 m² minimum in Asquith.

Questions about building in Upper North Shore

Which council approves building work in Upper North Shore?

2: Asquith, Beecroft, Berowra, Berowra Heights and Pennant Hills with Hornsby Shire Council; Gordon, Killara, Lindfield, Pymble, Roseville, St Ives, St Ives Chase, Turramurra and Wahroonga with Ku-ring-gai Council.

Is bushfire-prone land mapped in Upper North Shore?

Yes, in all 14 mapped Upper North Shore suburbs: Asquith, Beecroft, Berowra, Berowra Heights, Gordon, Killara, Lindfield, Pennant Hills, Pymble, Roseville, St Ives, St Ives Chase, Turramurra and Wahroonga.

Which Upper North Shore suburb has the most planning constraints?

Pennant Hills: 4 overlay families against 0 in St Ives Chase.

What planning zones apply across Upper North Shore?

4: R1 General Residential, R2 Low Density Residential, R3 Medium Density Residential and R4 High Density Residential. Widest range: Roseville, at 4.

Is heritage mapped in Upper North Shore?

Heritage records intersecting each suburb: Wahroonga 439, Turramurra 316, Pymble 315, Killara 182, St Ives 136, Beecroft 129, Lindfield 108, Roseville 107, Gordon 103, Pennant Hills 88, Berowra 17, Asquith 15, Berowra Heights 8. None in St Ives Chase.

What is the minimum lot size across Upper North Shore?

Asquith: 500-524 m² minimum; Beecroft: 600-624 m² minimum; Berowra: 600-624 m² minimum; Berowra Heights: 600-624 m² minimum; Gordon: 900-999 m² minimum; Killara: 800-899 m² minimum; Lindfield: 800-899 m² minimum; Pymble: 900-999 m² minimum; Roseville: 750-799 m² minimum; St Ives: 900-999 m² minimum; St Ives Chase: 900-999 m² minimum; Turramurra: 900-999 m² minimum; Wahroonga: 900-999 m² minimum.

Lodge with: Asquith, Beecroft, Berowra, Berowra Heights and Pennant Hills with Hornsby Shire Council (Hornsby Local Environmental Plan 2013); Gordon, Killara, Lindfield, Pymble, Roseville, St Ives, St Ives Chase, Turramurra and Wahroonga with Ku-ring-gai Council (Ku-ring-gai Local Environmental Plan 2015). Read 2026-09-20.

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Building in Upper North Shore?

Tell us the suburb and what you are building. Licence checked with NSW Fair Trading, insurance sighted, still trading, and genuinely working in Asquith, Beecroft and Berowra. If we cannot find one worth recommending, we will say so.

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