The City of Sydney has tonight voted to require new residential developments across the municipality to be fitted with indoor electric appliances instead of gas ones in a win for community health, household expenses and the climate.
City of Sydney has updated its Development Control Plan with new rules meaning that developers will need to fitout newly built homes, including apartments, with electric cooktops, ovens and space heaters/coolers instead of gas ones. Gas hot water will still be allowed in new dwellings at this point. The resolution was moved by Clr Jess Miller, seconded by Clr Sylvie Ellsmore and supported unanimously by councillors.
The changes will come into effect on 1 January 2026. In addition to the changes approved tonight, City of Sydney will now consult the community on further changes to its planning policies that would require new residential buildings be fully electric (including hot water), as well as large office buildings, hotels and serviced apartments which would come into effect from 1 January 2027.
According to a recent report conducted by energy experts Strategy Policy Research and commissioned by 350 Australia, the changes will save every newly built household in the City of Sydney an average of $626 per year on their energy bills.
City of Sydney is now the seventh council in NSW to implement electrification requirements for new buildings. It comes after the City of Canada Bay voted unanimously on 17 June 2025 to implement their new planning controls that require newly built homes and businesses to be all-electric without gas. Another seven councils are progressing similar changes, adding political pressure on the Minns government for a state-wide ban on gas connections to new buildings similar to Victoria and the ACT.
James Conlan, Electrify Your Council Campaign Manager at 350 Australia said, “We congratulate the City of Sydney for taking bold climate leadership and taking action where the state government is falling behind.
“Gas is a dirty fossil fuel that has no place in homes. Stopping new gas connections is a no-brainer for cutting emissions and making sure our homes aren’t making us sick.
“We also know that all-electric homes use far less energy than those with a gas connection, meaning cheaper energy bills for local residents, particularly for people on low incomes and renters.
“Only developers and gas corporations benefit from keeping our homes and businesses connected to gas.
Dr Shaun Watson, a neurologist at the Prince of Wales Hospitals and board member of Doctors for the Environment said, “Doctors for the Environment Australia thanks City of Sydney for putting the health of residents first.
“Burning gas in the home releases carbon dioxide which is heating the planet. Gas used in the home also releases nitrogen dioxide, benzene and formaldehyde which are known to trigger childhood asthma.
“City of Sydney has set a great precedent for other councils in NSW to follow.
“City of Sydney has just placed itself on the right side of history in the transition towards renewables and electrification which will help the environment and improve people’s health”
ENDS
Media contact:
James Conlan, Campaign Manager, Electrify Your Council, 350 Australia, 0434 411 199, james@350.org.au
Available for interview:
James Conlan, 0434 411 199, james@350.org.au, 350 Australia.
Dr. Shaun Watson, 0419 970 315, shaun.watson@dea.org.au, Doctors for the Environment