Standard instrument local environmental plans

Section 3.20 (previously section 33A) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (the EPA Act) provides that the Governor may prescribe the standard form and content of local environmental plans or other environmental planning instruments (called a standard instrument). The current standard instrument is prescribed by the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order 2006.

An environmental planning instrument (EPI) may be made that declares that the standard instrument provisions are adopted, and may also prescribe other matters as provided under section 3.20 of the EPA Act. EPIs made this way are referred to as standard instrument local environmental plans. The plans are automatically amended when the standard instrument is amended, and other amendments to the plans are affected by the requirements of section 3.20 and the standard instrument.

If an EPI is a standard instrument local environmental plan, this is indicated under “About this Plan” on the Status Information page for the EPI in the In Force collection.