Narrabeen zoning & planning overlays

A planning-constraint profile of Narrabeen (Northern Beaches, NSW) - 4.58 km², mapped from live council and state overlay data. This suburb is moderately constrained on the overlays we hold - no flood mapping covers this suburb, so this is not a suburb-wide verdict.

Elevation hillshade with street names, clipped to Narrabeen's boundary, with the bushfire and environmental overlays drawn on top. It shows where constraints fall; the interactive map shows them on your exact address. No flood layer is drawn because we hold no flood mapping for this area.

Narrabeen at a glance

Parcels 1,017 Median lot 706 m² Mapped easements 7 Bus stops 53 Landslide overlay 51%

How Narrabeen is zoned

Natural Waterways 50%
Public Recreation 17%
Low Density Residential 12%
Medium Density Residential 8%
Special Activities 6%
Environmental Conservation 4%

Buying in Narrabeen? The zoning, flood and bushfire lines on the section 10.7 certificate attached to the contract are mapped controls - see our s10.7 certificate guide.

Across its 4.58 km², Narrabeen is moderately constrained by the planning overlays we hold. We hold no flood mapping covering this suburb, so no flood figure is shown - that is a gap in our data, not an all-clear. Of what is mapped, 27% is flagged bushfire-prone. There are 20 heritage-listed sites on record, and the dominant land-use zone is Natural Waterways. The median lot measures about 706 m² across 1,017 parcels. These figures are suburb-wide - the overlays that actually apply to a given lot can differ block to block, which is what a property-level check tells you.

Who lives in Narrabeen

Census 2021 figures published by the ABS for the Narrabeen suburb boundary itself, not a wider region.

Population
8,255
usual residents, 2021
Median age
48
years
Median household income
$1,780
per week, Northern Beaches suburb typical $2,778
Median rent
$565
per week, Northern Beaches suburb typical $700
Median mortgage
$2,600
per month
Household size
2.0
people, average

Socio-economic standing

ABS SEIFA 2021 ranks every Australian suburb. Decile 1 is the most disadvantaged tenth of the country, decile 10 the least.

Advantage and disadvantage (IRSAD) Decile 9
most disadvantagedleast disadvantaged

Score 1060, and decile 9 within New South Wales. The national average is 1000.

Relative disadvantage (IRSD) Decile 7
most disadvantagedleast disadvantaged

Age profile

Share of Narrabeen's 8,255 residents in each ABS age band.

0-4 4.9%
5-14 7.2%
15-19 3.6%
20-24 4.3%
25-34 13.1%
35-44 12.7%
45-54 11.6%
55-64 11.5%
65-74 11.4%
75-84 10.3%
85+ 9.4%

Population trend, 2001 to 2025

Estimated resident population of Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights, the wider ABS statistical area containing Narrabeen. There is no annual population series published at suburb level, so this describes the surrounding area rather than Narrabeen itself.

9,444 in 2001 to 11,297 in 2025, up 20%.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics. Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) and SEIFA 2021, both published at the Suburbs and Localities level; Regional Population (estimated resident population) at Statistical Area Level 2. Used under CC BY 4.0. Census counts of small populations are randomly adjusted by the ABS to protect confidentiality, so figures for small suburbs are indicative.

Narrabeen data sources and coverage

Every figure below is an aggregate for the suburb boundary. “Not mapped” means LayeredGeo does not hold a source layer covering this suburb; it is never an all-clear for a particular property.

DatasetCoveragePublisher
Flood mappingNot mappedNSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies
Bushfire-prone mappingMappedNSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies
ZoningMappedNSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies
Heritage and environmentMapped where publishedNSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies
DemographicsAvailableAustralian Bureau of Statistics (2021 Census and SEIFA)

Profile last materially updated 5 August 2026. See the methodology and full source list. Source data changes over time and critical decisions should be checked with the responsible authority.

Check a specific Narrabeen address

See exactly which overlays touch a single property - the interactive map is free. Need it on paper? A full planning PDF is just $9.

See what's in the $9 report →

Narrabeen planning - frequently asked

Is Narrabeen flood-prone?

We don't yet hold flood mapping covering Narrabeen, so this page can't say how much of the suburb is flood-affected - that is a gap in our data, not an indication that the suburb is free of flood risk. Northern Beaches is the authority to check for flood mapping in this area. Flood overlays vary block to block, so whether a particular lot is affected needs a property-level check.

Is Narrabeen bushfire-prone?

Yes - around 27% of Narrabeen is mapped as bushfire-prone, compared with a Northern Beaches average of 47%. A bushfire-prone designation can trigger additional building requirements, so check the specific address.

What is the zoning in Narrabeen?

The dominant planning zone in Narrabeen is Natural Waterways, though the suburb also includes Public Recreation and Low Density Residential. Zoning sets what you can build and do on a site, and can differ lot by lot.

Does Narrabeen have heritage-listed places?

Narrabeen has 20 heritage-listed places on record. Heritage listing affects what you can alter or demolish, so confirm whether a specific property is listed or near a heritage place.

What is the typical lot size in Narrabeen?

Across 1,017 surveyed parcels in Narrabeen, the median lot size is about 706 m². There are also 7 registered easements mapped in the suburb - an easement can restrict where you can build, so always check the title and overlays for the specific lot.

Does Narrabeen have a train station?

There is no train station inside Narrabeen itself. The suburb is served by 53 bus stops.

What is the population of Narrabeen?

At the 2021 Census Narrabeen had 8,255 usual residents, with a median age of 48 and an average household size of 2.0 people. The wider Narrabeen - Wheeler Heights statistical area, which contains Narrabeen, went from 9,444 people in 2001 to 11,297 in 2025, up 20%. ABS publishes no annual population series for individual suburbs, so that trend describes the surrounding area rather than Narrabeen alone.

Is Narrabeen an advantaged suburb?

On the ABS SEIFA 2021 index of relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage (IRSAD), Narrabeen scores 1060 and sits in decile 9 of 10 nationally and decile 9 within New South Wales - decile 1 being the most disadvantaged tenth of Australian suburbs and decile 10 the least. The national average score is 1000. SEIFA summarises income, education, occupation and housing across the whole suburb, so it describes the area, not any particular household in it.

What is the median household income in Narrabeen?

Median household income in Narrabeen was $1,780 a week at the 2021 Census, against $2,778 for the typical suburb in Northern Beaches. Median rent was $565 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,600 a month. These are 2021 Census figures and have not been indexed to today.

Do I need a planning report for a Narrabeen property?

A Narrabeen planning report pulls every overlay - zoning, flood, bushfire, heritage and environmental - that touches a single lot, on live council and state data. The interactive map preview is free; a full PDF report is $9.

Compare nearby suburbs

Nearby suburbDistanceFlood mappedBushfire-prone
North Narrabeen 1.6 km Not mapped 28%
Wheeler Heights 1.6 km Not mapped 13%
Elanora Heights 1.8 km Not mapped 60%
Collaroy Plateau 2.1 km Not mapped 10%
Cromer 2.4 km Not mapped 55%
Collaroy 2.9 km Not mapped 23%
Warriewood 2.9 km Not mapped 40%
Ingleside 3.5 km Not mapped 96%
Narraweena 4.1 km 5% 8%
Oxford Falls 4.2 km Not mapped 97%

See all Northern Beaches suburb profiles →