Deep Soil vs Landscaped Area: What's the Difference?

If you've received a request from Council to provide landscape calculations, you've probably come across two terms that sound similar but mean very different things:

• Deep Soil

• Landscaped Area

Many homeowners—and even some building professionals—assume they're the same thing.

They're not.

Understanding the difference is one of the most important aspects of preparing a successful Development Application (DA), particularly for new homes, swimming pools, dual occupancies and residential alterations and additions.

What Is Landscaped Area?

Landscaped area refers to the parts of a site that are designed and maintained as landscape rather than buildings or hardstand areas.

Depending on your local council's Development Control Plan (DCP), landscaped areas may include a combination of:

• Lawn

• Garden beds

• Trees and shrubs

• Mulched planting areas

• Groundcovers

• Other approved landscape treatments

Some councils may also permit certain permeable landscape treatments to contribute to landscaped area calculations, while others apply more restrictive definitions.

For this reason, it's important to refer to the planning controls that apply to your property.

What Is Deep Soil?

Deep soil is much more specific.

Deep soil generally refers to areas of natural ground that remain free of buildings and underground structures, allowing healthy root development for larger trees and long-term landscape establishment.

The purpose of deep soil is to provide sufficient soil volume for vegetation, improve stormwater infiltration and support urban tree canopy.

In simple terms:

All deep soil is landscaped, but not all landscaped area is deep soil.

Why Does the Difference Matter?

Councils often require applicants to demonstrate compliance with both landscaped area and deep soil requirements.

A proposal may provide generous landscaping but still fail to achieve the required amount of deep soil.

This is particularly common on sites with:

• Large swimming pools

• Extensive paving

• Basement garages

• Retaining walls

• Podium slabs

• Significant site coverage

Understanding these requirements early can prevent costly redesign during the Development Application process.

What About Swimming Pools, Decks and Paving?

This is where many applicants become confused.

Whether an area contributes towards landscaped area depends on the relevant council's planning controls.

Some councils recognise certain permeable or landscape-integrated surfaces differently from others.

However, elements such as the following will generally not be considered deep soil because they prevent or significantly limit natural root development:

• Swimming pools

• Suspended concrete slabs

• Basement roofs

• Buildings

• Significant underground structures

Other elements—including timber decking, resin-bound gravel, permeable paving, artificial turf and raised planter boxes—may be treated differently depending on the applicable Development Control Plan.

Rather than relying on general assumptions, it's important to assess the specific planning controls for your local council.

Why Landscape Calculations Are Important

Landscape calculations aren't simply a compliance exercise.

They demonstrate that a development provides sufficient outdoor space to support:

• Healthy tree growth

• Stormwater infiltration

• Biodiversity

• Urban cooling

• Residential amenity

• Long-term landscape quality

Accurate calculations also help Council understand how the proposed development responds to the objectives of the planning controls.

Common Mistakes We See

Some of the most common issues encountered during Development Applications include:

• Assuming all garden areas qualify as deep soil.

• Counting pool surrounds as landscaped area without checking the council's definition.

• Locating large canopy trees above underground structures.

• Leaving landscape calculations until the architectural design has already been finalised.

• Confusing permeable surfaces with deep soil.

These issues often result in Requests for Information (RFIs) or amendments during Council assessment.

Why Landscape Architects Review These Calculations

Landscape calculations are about much more than measuring leftover space.

A landscape architect considers:

• Council planning controls

• Existing site conditions

• Building footprint

• Tree planting opportunities

• Stormwater outcomes

• Long-term landscape performance

• Coordination with architects and engineers

By considering these factors together, the landscape design becomes an integrated part of the Development Application rather than an afterthought.

How Place Supply Can Help

Place Supply provides documentation-focused landscape architecture consulting for residential developments throughout New South Wales.

We prepare landscape plans and landscape calculations that respond to the specific requirements of each local council, helping homeowners, architects and builders navigate the Development Application process with confidence.

Our services include:

• Development Application landscape plans

• Landscape calculations

• Deep soil assessments

• Landscape compliance reviews

• Swimming pool documentation

• Planting plans

• Existing and proposed landscape plans

• Consultant coordination

Whether you're preparing a new Development Application or responding to a Council Request for Information, we can help produce clear, practical documentation that supports a smoother approval process.

Learn more about our consulting services at https://www.placesupply.com.au/consulting.

Final Thoughts

While the terms deep soil and landscaped area are often used together, they serve different planning purposes and should never be assumed to mean the same thing.

Understanding the distinction early in the design process can improve the quality of your Development Application, reduce the likelihood of redesign and help ensure your proposal responds appropriately to your local council's planning requirements.

When in doubt, seek advice early. A well-considered landscape strategy is often the difference between a straightforward approval process and unnecessary delays.