Free initial consultation
Row Homes Built
for the Way You Live
3 or 4 homes on one block.
Architect-designed.
Fast-tracked approval.
So, What Exactly Is a Row Home?
A row home is a group of 3 or 4 individual homes built side by side on a single block of land. Each dwelling is two storeys, with its own front door, private garden, parking, and separate address. They’re designed to look and feel like a normal house — not a unit block.
HOPE. PLAN. BUILD.
Under the NSW Housing Pattern Book, row homes follow pre-approved architect designs that meet strict quality and livability standards. That means better homes, faster approvals, and less back-and-forth with council.
The result is a development that sits comfortably in an established street.
Your neighbours see houses. You see potential.
Why Landowners Are Looking
at Row Homes
More From Your Land
Turn one block into 3 or 4 independent homes without traditional subdivision. Each dwelling can be Strata Titled or Torrens Titled and sold individually, or held for rental income.
10-Day Approval Pathway
With Forrest, you qualify for fast-tracked Complying Development Certificate (CDC) approval — as little as 10 days, compared to approximately 9-12 months through the standard Council DA process.
Looks Like a Home
Slender street frontage, private gardens, wrap-around balconies. These are designed to match the proportions of a detached home, and sit quietly in the streetscape.
Is Your Site Suitable?
Row homes suit a range of sites across NSW — but not every block qualifies. Here’s a quick guide.
- Block size: 500m² or more in low and mid-rise housing areas. 600m² or more elsewhere.
- Frontage: At least 13m wide (LMR areas) or 15.5m wide (other areas).
- Zoning: Must be in an area where multi-dwelling housing is permitted.
- Site type: Corner blocks, infill lots, and laneway sites work particularly well.
- Exclusions: Heritage conservation areas, bushfire-prone land, and flood-prone land are not eligible for the fast-track pathway.
Not sure where your block sits?
We’ll check for you — takes five minutes.
Architect-Designed. Built to Live In.
Every row home design in the NSW Pattern Book has been created by registered architects and reviewed by the Government Architect of NSW.
The result is housing that’s genuinely good to live in — light-filled, efficient, and connected to the outdoors.
HOPE. PLAN. BUILD.
1, 2, or 3 bedroom configurations to suit the site and the market
Open-plan living connected directly to private garden courtyards
Home office or study included in every dwelling
Ground floor brickwork with lightweight first floor and wrap-around balconies
Passive solar orientation, cross-ventilation, sun shading to all windows
Solar-ready roof, rainwater tank, ceiling fans, all-electric — lower running costs from day one
From Site Check to Keys in Hand
HOW WE HELP
Step 1.
We Assess Your SiteSend us your address. We’ll check your block against the Pattern Book requirements — lot size, frontage, zoning, orientation — and tell you what’s possible.
Step 2
Choose Your ConfigurationPick the dwelling mix that suits your goals: 3 or 4 homes, bedroom count, materials, and colours. We walk you through the options.
Step 3
Fast-Track ApprovalYour accredited designer prepares the complying development certificate. The Pattern Book pathway means approval in as little as 10 days — not months.
Step 4
We BuildForrest handles construction from slab to handover. One builder, one point of contact, no surprises.
1. Planning
2. Plans Approved
3. Final Pricing
4. Build
5. Landscaping
6. Project Complete
Step 1.
We Assess Your Site
Send us your address. We’ll check your block against the Pattern Book requirements — lot size, frontage, zoning, orientation — and tell you what’s possible.
Step 2
Choose Your Configuration
Pick the dwelling mix that suits your goals: 3 or 4 homes, bedroom count, materials, and colours. We walk you through the options.
Step 3
Fast-Track Approval
Your accredited designer prepares the complying development certificate. The Pattern Book pathway means approval in as little as 10 days — not months.
Step 4
We Build
Forrest handles construction from slab to handover. One builder, one point of contact, no surprises.
We handle the complexity. You get the keys
Built by
Forrest Small Homes
WHY FORREST
We’ve been building small homes across the Illawarra, South Coast, and Southern Highlands for over 12 years.
Granny flats, secondary dwellings, and now row homes — it’s a natural extension of what we’ve always done: well-designed homes on a smaller footprint.
Row homes are new to NSW, but the principles aren’t new to us.
We understand compact design, efficient construction, and how to deliver a home that works for real people on real sites.
Our Testimonials
What our clients say about us
Common Questions About Row Homes in Sydney
How many homes can I build on my block?
Most sites suit 3 or 4 dwellings, depending on lot size and frontage. The minimum is 500m² with a 13m frontage in low and mid-rise housing areas. We can check your block in a few minutes.
What's the difference between row homes and townhouses?
Row homes are side-by-side, two-storey dwellings — each with its own entry, garden, and address. They’re designed to look like individual houses, not a multi-unit complex. Under the NSW Pattern Book, they follow architect-designed plans that have been pre-approved for quality and liveability.
Do I need a DA or can this be fast-tracked?
Not necessarily. Pattern Book designs qualify for the fast-tracked complying development pathway — approval in as little as 10 days through an accredited certifier, rather than a full DA through council.
Can I sell each home individually?
Yes. Row homes are suitable for strata title, which means each dwelling can be sold as a separate property. You can also hold some or all as rental investments.
What areas do you build in?
We build across the Illawarra, South Coast, and Southern Highlands regions of NSW. If you’re unsure whether your site is in our area, get in touch and we’ll let you know.
How long does a row home project take from start to finish?
It depends on the site and configuration, but a typical row home project runs roughly 12 to 18 months from site assessment to handover. The fast-tracked approval pathway saves significant time at the front end.
Professional Memberships