A NSW Government website
Planning
Planning

5 things you can do on your farm

Agritourism

The NSW Government has made it easier for farmers to use their land for tourism activities, such as farm experiences, cellar doors and farm stays.

Here are 5 ways you can use your farm for new business ventures, if you meet requirements for exempt and complying development.

Camping

You can host campers on your farm without planning or building approval if you meet certain requirements, including:

  • tents are 6 m from any building, caravan, annex or campervan
  • you host no more than 20 people at any one time, on no more than 21 days for each visit
  • your farm is at least 15 ha.
Camping – certain requirements must be met to host campers on farms.
Camping – certain requirements must be met to host campers on farms.

Fast-track new buildings

You can build a new structure to sell produce from your farm through a fast-track approval if you meet certain requirements, including:

  • the building is no larger than 200 m2 and up to 7 m or 10 m in height, depending on your property size
  • the building is set back from certain neighbouring agricultural uses
  • there are no more than 100 visitors at any one time, excluding for fruit and produce picking.
Fast-track new buildings – certain requirements must be met for structures built to sell produce.
Fast-track new buildings – certain requirements must be met for structures built to sell produce.

Provide a rural experience

You can host events, such as tours, weddings, conferences and other functions. To do this, you must meet certain requirements, including:

  • events (except tours, school visits and horse-riding tours) have a maximum of 50 people, and take place on no more than 52 days each year
  • events take place between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm Sundays to Thursdays and public holidays, and 8 am and midnight Fridays and Saturdays
  • neighbours are given at least one week’s notice before the use starts.
Provide a rural experience – certain requirements must be met to host events and other functions.
Provide a rural experience – certain requirements must be met to host events and other functions.

Run a small farm-gate business

You can use an existing building on your farm to set up a business such as a store or café, or for tastings or workshops, to highlight your land’s produce. To do this, you must meet certain requirements, including:

  • use a maximum of 200 m2 of the building
  • operate between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm Sundays to Fridays and public holidays, and 7 am and 5 pm on Saturdays
  • host a maximum of 100 visitors at a time, excluding for fruit and produce picking.
  • provide parking on your property.
Run a small farm-gate business – certain requirements must be met to use an existing building for business.
Run a small farm-gate business – certain requirements must be met to use an existing building for business.

Build a roadside stall

You can build a roadside stall on your farm without planning or building approval if you meet certain development standards, including:

  • your stall has a maximum footprint of 9 m2
  • the stall is located on your property
  • the stall is not adjacent to a freeway, highway or tollway
  • there is room for customer parking.
Build a roadside stall – certain development standards must be met to build a roadside stall.
Build a roadside stall – certain development standards must be met to build a roadside stall.

Resources

If you don’t meet the requirements for exempt and complying development, talk to your local council about lodging a development application. Agritourism businesses already operating lawfully are not affected by these changes.