Sylvania zoning & planning overlays

A planning-constraint profile of Sylvania (Sutherland Shire, NSW) - 4.41 km², mapped from live council and state overlay data. This suburb is relatively unconstrained 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 Sylvania'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.

Sylvania at a glance

Parcels 3,160 Median lot 631 m² Mapped easements 45 Bus stops 93

How Sylvania is zoned

Low Density Residential 44%
Natural Waterways 21%
Infrastructure 7%
Environmental Living 7%
Medium Density Residential 6%
Environmental Management 5%

Buying in Sylvania? 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 4.41 km², Sylvania is relatively unconstrained 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. There are 15 heritage-listed sites on record, and the dominant land-use zone is Low Density Residential. The median lot measures about 631 m² across 3,160 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 Sylvania

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

Population
10,749
usual residents, 2021
Median age
46
years
Median household income
$1,961
per week, Sutherland Shire suburb typical $2,626
Median rent
$530
per week, Sutherland Shire suburb typical $590
Median mortgage
$2,730
per month
Household size
2.6
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 1069, and decile 9 within New South Wales. The national average is 1000.

Relative disadvantage (IRSD) Decile 8
most disadvantagedleast disadvantaged

Age profile

Share of Sylvania's 10,749 residents in each ABS age band.

0-4 4.8%
5-14 12.5%
15-19 5.8%
20-24 4.7%
25-34 8.5%
35-44 12.2%
45-54 14.0%
55-64 11.9%
65-74 10.8%
75-84 9.8%
85+ 5.1%

Population trend, 2001 to 2025

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

14,705 in 2001 to 16,620 in 2025, up 13%.

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.

Sylvania 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 Sylvania 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 →

Sylvania planning - frequently asked

Is Sylvania flood-prone?

We don't yet hold flood mapping covering Sylvania, 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. Sutherland Shire 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 Sylvania bushfire-prone?

Bushfire mapping covers Sylvania and little to none of it is mapped as bushfire-prone (the Sutherland Shire average is 46%). Always confirm for the exact lot, as mapping can change.

What is the zoning in Sylvania?

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

Does Sylvania have heritage-listed places?

Sylvania has 15 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 Sylvania?

Across 3,160 surveyed parcels in Sylvania, the median lot size is about 631 m². There are also 45 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 Sylvania have a train station?

There is no train station inside Sylvania itself. The suburb is served by 93 bus stops.

What is the population of Sylvania?

At the 2021 Census Sylvania had 10,749 usual residents, with a median age of 46 and an average household size of 2.6 people. The wider Sylvania - Taren Point statistical area, which contains Sylvania, went from 14,705 people in 2001 to 16,620 in 2025, up 13%. ABS publishes no annual population series for individual suburbs, so that trend describes the surrounding area rather than Sylvania alone.

Is Sylvania an advantaged suburb?

On the ABS SEIFA 2021 index of relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage (IRSAD), Sylvania scores 1069 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 Sylvania?

Median household income in Sylvania was $1,961 a week at the 2021 Census, against $2,626 for the typical suburb in Sutherland Shire. Median rent was $530 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,730 a month. These are 2021 Census figures and have not been indexed to today.

Do I need a planning report for a Sylvania property?

A Sylvania 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
Kangaroo Point 1.4 km Not mapped 0%
Sylvania Waters 1.4 km Not mapped 0%
Kareela 1.6 km Not mapped 12%
Oyster Bay 1.8 km Not mapped 11%
Miranda 2.2 km Not mapped <1%
Kyle Bay
Georges River
2.5 km Not mapped 1%
Taren Point 2.7 km Not mapped 0%
Blakehurst
Georges River
2.7 km Not mapped 5%
Gymea 2.8 km Not mapped 1%
Jannali 2.8 km Not mapped 33%

See all Sutherland Shire suburb profiles →