Expert Building Design in Dural

Dural is a unique blend of semi-rural charm and modern living, offering spacious properties, leafy surrounds, and upscale homes just 40 minutes from the Sydney CBD. With established schools like Hills Grammar, boutique shopping at Round Corner, and nearby orchards and nurseries, Dural is perfect for families wanting room to grow—without leaving convenience behind.

At DMR Designs, we specialize in drafting services, council approval assistance & building design in Dural—crafting custom homes, acreage dwellings, renovations, and granny flats suited to the area’s generous lot sizes and semi-rural character. Whether it’s a contemporary new build or a lifestyle-based extension, we design for comfort, function, and full council compliance.

DMR Designs proudly serves Dural and surrounding suburbs with compliant, stylish, and tailored design solutions. We also take on select projects within a 2 to 4 hour travel radius from The Hills and Hornsby Shire regions.

Why Choose DMR Designs for Building Design in Dural?

  • Designed for Semi-Rural Living: We plan homes that complement Dural’s larger blocks—featuring open layouts, outdoor zones, and multiple dwellings if needed.

  • Local Council Expertise: We work closely with The Hills and Hornsby councils to meet all development controls and environmental overlays.

  • Acreage and Dual-Occ Specialists: Whether you’re adding a studio, barn, or secondary home, we make it seamless.

  • End-to-End Design Management: From site analysis to approval, we take care of every step.

  • Upgrades & Additions for Established Homes: Dural’s older homes are often ideal for stylish upgrades, extensions, and reconfigurations.

Our Dural building design projects blend semi-rural aesthetics with high-performance planning—built for how you live.

The Hills Shire Council Requirements for Building in Dural

  • General Setbacks:

    • Front: 10m–20m | Side: 5m–10m depending on lot zoning (RU1, RU4, R2)

  • Floor Space Ratio (FSR):

    • Generally 0.1:1 to 0.3:1 for rural zones; up to 0.5:1 in residential areas

  • Average Block Size:

    • Often 2,000–10,000 sqm, with larger rural blocks exceeding 5 acres

  • Zoning:

    • A mix of RU1 Primary Production, RU4 Rural Small Holdings, and R2 Low Density Residential

  • Local Considerations:

    • Dural includes bushfire-prone areas, slope constraints, and occasional heritage zones—site-specific reports may be required

Building in Dural requires careful planning to respect both the natural surroundings and local regulations.

For detailed council regulations and submission guidelines, visit the The Hills Shire Council website.

DA vs CDC: What’s Right for Your Dural Project?

In Dural, most projects require a Development Application (DA), though some builds in residential zones may qualify for a Complying Development Certificate (CDC).

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you understand the difference:

DA (Development Application):

  • Required for builds on RU-zoned land, heritage sites, or sloped/vegetated lots

  • Reviewed by either The Hills or Hornsby Shire Council

  • Offers flexibility for large or multi-structure designs

  • May require bushfire, arborist, or environmental reports

CDC (Complying Development Certificate):

  • Suitable for compliant additions or standard builds in R2 zones

  • Approved by a private certifier

  • Quick turnaround—ideal if site meets strict CDC criteria

Still have questions? We’ll review your site’s constraints and help you choose the best pathway forward.

 

FAQs About Building Design in Dural

  • Most definitely—especially for acreage blocks or rural zoning. We’ll guide you through DA or CDC requirements.

  • Depending on the complexity, most projects take 8–12 weeks from concept to submission.

  • Yes! We specialize in semi-rural and acreage sites, including homes with studios, pool houses, or dual living setups.

  • Nope—we also work in nearby areas like Glenorie, Kenthurst, and Galston. We're also available for select projects up to 4 hours away from The Hill Shire Council area.

  • Cost depends on the scope of your project. We’ll walk you through pricing during your discovery call so you know exactly what to expect.

Ready to take the next step?

From family homes to lifestyle-based upgrades, we’re here to design something perfect for your Dural property.
Let’s talk about your project.

Our Building Design Services in Dural

We offer expert design services for rural homes, knockdown rebuilds, large extensions, granny flats, and more. Our team works with the land, council, and your ideas to deliver practical, stylish results for Dural’s unique setting.

Whether you're creating a multigenerational home or upgrading a classic property, we’re with you from start to finish.

What to Expect: Our Building Design Timeline

A step-by-step look at how we take your project from concept to council approval and beyond.

Every project starts with a discovery call and ends with council-approved, build-ready plans.

Here’s how we make it easy from start to finish:

Step 1 - Discovery Call

  • Let’s chat! We’ll have a quick call to understand your project and see how we can help.

Step 2 -Site Visit & Consultation (5–7 days)

  • We’ll meet at your site (or virtually), take a closer look, and discuss your vision in detail.

Step 3 - Fee Proposal (2 days)

  • You’ll get a clear, no-surprises proposal with the scope, timeline, and costs.

Step 4 - Concept Design (4 weeks)

  • We’ll create initial design ideas and layouts tailored just for you.

Step 5 - Design Development & Expert Coordination (2 weeks)

  • We’ll fine-tune the design and collaborate with any needed specialists (engineer, energy consultant, town planner, geo tech engineer, bushfire, heritage consultant, etc).

Step 6 - Final Adjustments (1 week)

  • We’ll polish everything and prepare the final drawings for submission.

Step 7 - Submission for Approval

  • We handle the council or certifier submission, so you’re ready for the next steps.

Want the full breakdown?

View our detailed process here.

From Plans to Reality: See How It All Comes Together

View our portfolio to see how we’ve helped homeowners in Dural and beyond create elegant, functional homes for modern semi-rural living.

Portfolio

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Home Designs

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From clever planning to council-ready documents, our Dural building design services are built to suit acreage, lifestyle, and every stage of life.

Ready to Start Designing Your New Home in Dural?

We’d love to hear what you have in mind—whether it’s a

new homestead, dual occupancy, or extension.

We’d love to hear what you have in mind. Book a discovery call or send us a message, and we’ll be in touch within 48 hours.

Not based in Dural?

DMR Designs proudly works with homeowners across The Hills Shire Council area. From Baulkham Hills and Kellyville to Norwest and beyond, we bring the same personalized design approach to every project—wherever you call home.