Quick answer
Site coverage is the percentage of a block covered by roofed buildings. Private open space (POS) is the outdoor area set aside for the people living in the home. Soft landscaping is the planted, permeable part of the site, such as lawn and garden beds, not paving. The Planning and Design Code sets standards for all three, and on Adelaide infill blocks they often decide how large a home can be.
Key points
- Site coverage = roofed area ÷ site area × 100.
- Garages, alfrescos and porches under the roof count towards coverage.
- Paving and driveways are not soft landscaping.
- Going up a storey is the usual way to add floor area without adding coverage.
What is site coverage?
Site coverage is the proportion of your land covered by roofed buildings, shown as a percentage. The house counts, and so do the garage, a roofed alfresco and the porch. Zones in the Planning and Design Code set coverage standards, so it's one of the first numbers a planner checks.
How to calculate site coverage
Divide the total roofed area by the site area and multiply by 100. On Lot 1 of our Ingle Farm project, the home, garage, alfresco and porch total 168.96 m² on a 300.02 m² lot:
168.96 ÷ 300.02 × 100 = 56.32% site coverage.
What is private open space?
Private open space (POS) is outdoor space for the exclusive use of the people living in the home, usually the back yard and alfresco area. The Code sets minimum amounts, often tied to site size, and expects part of it to be directly accessible from a living area. A good POS isn't just big enough on paper. It needs to be usable, private and get some sun.
What counts as soft landscaping?
Soft landscaping is the part of the site that can absorb water and grow plants: lawn, garden beds and planting areas. Driveways, paths, paving and decking don't count. The Code also looks at how much of the front yard is landscaped, which is why our planning drawings list front landscaping separately. New homes may also need a tree planted on site, or a payment into the state's Urban Tree Canopy Off-set Scheme where a tree can't be planted.
Real numbers from our projects
These figures come straight from the planning and working drawings of our projects:
| Project | Site | Coverage | Private open space | Soft landscaping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ingle Farm, Lot 1 | 300.02 m² | 56.32% | 53.87 m² | 22.93% |
| Ingle Farm, Lot 2 | 377.67 m² | 52.62% | 88.03 m² | 35.36% |
| Parafield Gardens, Res 1 | 332.30 m² | 53.26% | 66.44 m² | 27.41% |
| Telowie Avenue | 332.36 m² | 46.25% | 83.82 m² | 28.35% |
| Glenunga, Res 1 | 511 m² | 39.94% | 177.83 m² | 43.42% |
Telowie Avenue and Parafield Gardens sit on almost identical 332 m² blocks. The single-storey Parafield home covers 53.26% of its site. The two-storey Telowie home covers 46.25% yet has more floor area: 259.50 m² against 177.86 m².
How these numbers shape a design
- Build up, not out. A second storey adds floor area without adding coverage, which frees ground for open space and planting.
- Watch the roofed extras. A larger alfresco or a double garage can push coverage over the limit quickly.
- Design the back yard, not just the house. POS has to be usable and reachable from living areas, not leftover strips beside the fence.
- Plan the front garden early. Driveways eat into front landscaping, so crossover position matters.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good site coverage for a house in Adelaide?
It depends on your zone. The Planning and Design Code sets coverage standards zone by zone. On our recent infill projects, coverage ranged from about 40% on larger lots to about 56% on a 300 m² lot.
Does a garage count towards site coverage?
Yes. Site coverage counts roofed buildings, so the garage, a roofed alfresco and the porch are included along with the house.
Is a driveway counted as soft landscaping?
No. Soft landscaping means permeable, planted areas such as lawn and garden beds. Driveways, paths and paving are hard surfaces and don't count.
What is private open space (POS)?
Private open space is outdoor area for the exclusive use of the home's occupants, usually the back yard and alfresco. The Code sets minimum amounts and expects part of it to be reachable from a living area.
General information about South Australia's planning and building system, current at the date above. It isn't legal or planning advice for a particular site. Talk to us about yours.
