City of Sydney planning rules will require new residential buildings, large commercial buildings and hotels in the city to be all electric by January 1, 2027.
The changes kick off on January 1, 2026, when new residential developments will need to ensure their indoor appliances (cooking and heating) are electric.
In addition, the City of Sydney will place a suite of broader proposals on public exhibition shortly.
These proposals will add outdoor appliances (heaters) to the electrification rules for new residential developments as well as require new large commercial buildings and hotels to be all electric from January 1, 2027.
Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, said the new rules for indoor electric appliances come into effect in just over six months.
"These changes will create healthier and more energy-efficient buildings which will meet future energy standards and avoid expensive retrofitting,” she said.
“They also spare households from being locked into increasingly expensive gas prices and potential shortages.”
In drafting both proposals, the City of Sydney consulted with community, industry and peak bodies to develop the best approach.
The wider proposal means that development applications for all new residential developments and large commercial developments will be gas free from January 1, 2027 if they’re adopted by Council after the exhibition period.
New residential developments will have to use electric cooktops, ovens and space heating from January 1, 2026.
Larger commercial developments include new tourist accommodation with more than 100 rooms and large commercial buildings of more than 1,000 square metres of floor space.
This aligns with the NSW Sustainability State Environmental Planning Policy which encourages the design and delivery of sustainable buildings.
The new rules won’t apply to industrial uses or existing buildings.