Zones

What is a zone?

A zone is an area of land with one main purpose in common, for example, residential, business, agricultural, environmental or recreational use.

The SPPs describe 23 standard zones and their primary controls for the use or development of land.

All council areas in Tasmania are divided into zones. These zone maps are produced by councils and are approved as part of each LPS.

You can find out which zones applies to your property by:

• visiting the TPC page on current planning schemes
• visiting the LIST
• using the Enquiry portal in PlanBuild.

Standard zones

There are 23 standard zones described in the SPPs. Each zone description includes:

• the main goals of the zone
• a table listing which land uses are Permitted, Discretionary or Prohibited
• use and development standards.

While zones are described at a state level, councils decide where these zones apply in their area.

Particular purpose zones (PPZs)

Where the standard zones described in the SPPs cannot adequately meet the main planning goals for a particular area, councils may describe and apply a PPZ instead. Councils don’t have to create PPZs. If they do, the descriptions and zone maps are found in the LPS because they only apply in that council area.

A PPZ gives an entirely different set of zone provisions (i.e. zone purpose, use table, use standards and development standards) for a particular area to those in the SPP zones. An example of a PPZ is a university campus where the mix of uses is unable to be delivered through an SPP zone and the overarching management of the place indicates that multiple zones would not be appropriate.

For further guidance on the content and drafting of PPZs refer to clause LP1.4 of the Local Provisions Schedule Requirements in the SPPs.

Special Area Plans (SAPs)

PPZs and SAPs serve different purposes. A SAP applies in addition to one or more SPP zones and consists of provisions that apply to a specific area of land in addition to, in modification of, or in substitution for provisions in the underlying SPP zone or zones. A SAP may apply over one or more underlying SPP zones. Unlike a PPZ, it is not necessary for a SAP to provide a self-contained set of use and development provisions for the specific area, as the underlying SPP zone provisions will also apply, unless overridden by the terms of the SAP. It is only necessary for the SAP to include provisions that are intended to apply in addition to, or in place of, some of the underlying zone provisions. An example of a SAP is the incorporation of the provisions of a Master Plan for a unique site.

For further guidance on the drafting and contents of SAPs refer to clause LP1.5 of the Local Provisions Schedule Requirements in the SPPs.

• Questions and Answers – Tasmanian Planning Commission Website

Where do zones apply?

All land in Tasmania is zoned. To find what zone applies to a specific area, you can:

1. Look at the zone map in the LPS that applies to that area
2. Search PlanBuild using an address
3. Use LISTmap to zoom into the relevant area of the map of Tasmania.

See Navigating LISTmap (https://www.thelist.tas.gov.au/app/content/the-list/news_and_information/resources/listmaphelp.pdf

Who is responsible for making and amending zones?

Zones described in the SPPs are made and amended by the Minister for Planning. This process involves independent review by the Tasmanian Planning Commission and an opportunity for the public to have a say.

PPZs described in an LPS are prepared by councils. This process involves independent assessment and review by the TPC and an opportunity for the public to have a say.

From time to time, a council may rezone land or change zone boundaries. These changes are usually the result of a decision to change the future purpose of the land.

Every five years, the SPPs are reviewed, and this may also result in changes to the zoning rules.

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