Demolition rules in the City of Ryde

When a CDC is allowed in Ryde

Council’s demolition information sheet says approval is needed to demolish most structures in the City of Ryde. Exempt demolition only covers a structure that could have been built as exempt development in the first place.

A CDC for demolition is not available where the property has a State Heritage Register item, an interim heritage order, or a heritage item or draft item listed in the local plan. Where a CDC is used, the demolition must be its own CDC, separate from the new building’s.

• DA or CDC: the NSW approval routes

What council asks for

Whether you go through a DA or a CDC, Ryde asks for more about the demolition itself than most councils.

• A demolition work plan to the Australian Standard for demolition, AS 2601.
• Photos of the existing house.
• The demolition contractor’s details (DA).
• A site waste minimisation and management plan.
• A demolition security deposit, paid with the fees.

Rules on site

Part 8.1 of the Ryde DCP sets the site rules: security fencing, a hoarding along the street boundary unless the building is set back more than twice its height, and “Danger! Demolition in progress” signs. Specialists examine the structure for hazardous materials before stripping starts, and where asbestos is found, no demolition goes ahead near it until it is dealt with. Tree protection fencing goes up before any demolition.

Part 7.2 asks for demolition by deconstruction, with a demolition work plan, and waste dockets kept on site.

The deposit, skips and road permits

Council records existing damage to the road and footpath, strongly advises you to photograph it too, and generally takes a security deposit sized to the type of work and the length of the frontage.

• No permit is issued for a skip in the carriageway, and the footpath is used only in exceptional cases, with approval before the skip arrives.
• Road activity permits (road use, work zone, crane, hoarding, skip) are lodged with their fees at least 10 business days before construction work starts, or 5 business days before non-construction activity.
• A hoarding permit (RAP 1.6) has a $490 application fee and $223 an hour for assessment, with a minimum of $892: 4 hours of assessment are charged up front, and the unused part is refunded. It also needs $10 million insurance. Figures as listed on 10 October 2026.

Neighbours

The DCP asks for at least 48 hours’ notice to neighbours when access will be restricted, and 24 hours’ written notice before a house service is affected. A demolition-only DA is notified to adjoining owners for 14 days, unless a DA for a new building on the land has already been notified.

Trees and heritage

Ryde’s tree controls exempt small trees, under 4 metres tall or with a trunk under 150 mm at 1.4 metres. Trees removed because of a demolition are assessed in the DA, a tree permit taken out only to clear the way for future development isn’t valid, and replacement planting is at 3 for every 1 removed. On a heritage item or in a conservation area, tree work needs a DA.

A heritage DA needs a statement of heritage impact, and council requires a pre-DA meeting for listed items. On the NSW planning maps, Gladesville has more than 100 listed heritage items inside the suburb boundary, and conservation areas cover about a sixth of Denistone and an eighth of Eastwood.

Asbestos in Ryde

Council notes friable asbestos needs a Class A licensed contractor and bonded asbestos over 10 m² a Class B, and recommends a suitably licensed contractor for all asbestos work. Our team removes non-friable asbestos under our Class B licence; friable asbestos goes to a licensed Class A subcontractor.

• What sets the price of asbestos removal

Suburbs in the City of Ryde

These rules apply across the council area. Each suburb page has the local planning picture and how we work there.

• Demolition in Ryde
• Demolition in Gladesville
• Demolition in Denistone
• Demolition in East Ryde
• Demolition in North Ryde
• Demolition in Putney
• Demolition in Eastwood
• Demolition in Melrose Park
• Demolition across the Ryde area
• House demolition in Sydney