Can driveways or paved areas count toward landscaped area?
Generally, no. Ordinary driveways and hard-paved areas do not count as required planting area. The qualifying area must meet the applicable planting-area requirements of the Residential Zones Technical Specifications.
Generally, no. A driveway or other hard-paved vehicle area should not be counted as planting/landscaped area where the applicable Territory Plan requirement is specifically for planting area.
The current Residential Zones Technical Specifications 2026 (NI2026-303) distinguishes planting areas from driveways, parking and other hard-surfaced areas. For dual-occupancy/multi-unit development, the required planting area must be capable of supporting planting and tree canopy, so ordinary driveway paving cannot simply be included in that calculation.
Some forms of landscaping or specially designed permeable surfaces may serve other environmental or site-design purposes, but that does not automatically make them qualifying planting area.
Planning (Residential Zones) Technical Specifications 2026 (NI2026-303) - Planning (Residential Zones) Technical Specifications 2026 | PDF
Link on the answer: https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/View/ni/2026-303/current/PDF/2026-303.PDF
Where this question is kept
| Dual Occupancy Q&A | #408 | agrees | 13/08/2026 |