Transport for NSW Domestic Waterfront Lease Guide
If you own a jetty, pontoon or mooring on Sydney Harbour, the structure doesn’t just need approval to be built or repaired — it also needs a lease over the water it sits on. Here’s what that means, in plain English, and how we handle it for you.
What is a domestic waterfront lease? Maritime Property Guide-Domestic Waterfront Lease PDF HERE
Your jetty or pontoon sits on the bed of the Harbour, below the Mean High Water Mark — land you don’t own. To have a structure there, you hold a domestic waterfront lease: formal permission to occupy that area of the waterway for your private jetty, pontoon, ramp or mooring.
On Sydney Harbour and its tributaries — Middle Harbour, the Lane Cove and the Parramatta River — that lease is issued and managed by Transport for NSW (Maritime).
Lease or licence — which one do I need?
This is where a lot of owners get confused, because both terms get used online.
- On Sydney Harbour and its tributaries, waterfront structures are held under a Transport for NSW domestic waterfront lease.
- On several other NSW waterways — such as Port Hacking and the Georges River — the equivalent is a Crown Lands domestic waterfront licence, managed by a different department.
So if your property is on Sydney, Middle, Lane Cove or the Parramatta, what you need is the Transport for NSW lease — not a Crown Lands licence. It’s an easy thing to get wrong, and getting it right from the start saves time and dealing with the wrong department.
How the lease works with the approval
The good news for Sydney Harbour owners: the lease and the planning approval sit with the same authority. Transport for NSW handles both the approval to build, repair or replace your structure and the lease over the water it stands on. One authority, one process — and we manage the whole lot for you, so none of it lands on your desk.
Do I need to worry about the lease when repairing or replacing a structure?
Yes — an existing structure comes with an existing lease, and both need to stay in order. When we repair or replace a jetty, pontoon or mooring pile, we make sure the lease side is squared away alongside the approval, so there are no surprises down the track — including at sale, when a valid lease and compliant structure matter.
It’s also why an existing, leased structure is a genuinely valuable asset. In many parts of the Harbour, a brand-new structure won’t be approved, so keeping your existing one — and its lease — in good standing protects something you may not be able to replace.
How Sydney Harbour Marine handles it for you
We deal with Transport for NSW every week. When you call us, we’ll:
- Inspect your structure and check where things stand
- Tell you honestly what your job needs — approval, lease, or both
- Prepare and manage the Transport for NSW approval and lease for you
- Repair or replace the structure, and photograph the job as it progresses
One local, family-run crew, start to finish. No chasing departments, no paperwork on your plate.
Book a Waterfront Rebuild Assessment
I hope we will be working together in the not too distant future, but in the meantime, if you have any questions about the services I offer, please contact me anytime. Thank You
Ian McKnight
Mobile: 0477 076 076
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lease for my jetty or pontoon on Sydney Harbour? Yes. A structure below the Mean High Water Mark occupies the bed of the Harbour, so it’s held under a Transport for NSW domestic waterfront lease. We manage that alongside the approval.
Is it a lease or a licence? On Sydney Harbour and its tributaries, it’s a Transport for NSW domestic waterfront lease. The Crown Lands domestic waterfront licence applies to other NSW waterways, such as Port Hacking and the Georges River — not Sydney Harbour.
Who manages the lease on Sydney Harbour? Transport for NSW (Maritime) manages both the lease and the planning approval for waterfront structures on Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, the Lane Cove and the Parramatta River.
Does my lease matter when I sell the property? Yes — a valid lease and a compliant structure matter at sale. It’s worth keeping both in good standing, which we can help you check.
Maritime Property Guide – Establishing a Domestic Waterfront Lease PDF HERE
