Famous Sydney gas ban to make all new residential homes fully electric – realestate.com.au

Gas is out and electrification is coming for one of Australia’s densest property markets.

From January 1, 2026, new residential developments in the City of Sydney will be mandated to install electric hobs, ovens and indoor heating and cooling systems.

The first phase is expected to impact approximately 237,000 residents across the LGA and marks a decisive move away from gas, with the council aiming for full electrification of all new properties by January 1, 2027.

According to Yahoo NewsAt this later date, outdoor gas connections, including heaters and barbecues, will also be banned in new developments, ensuring an all-electric standard for future homes and commercial developments.

The change is in line with national measures already in place in Victoria and the ACT, where most new developments cannot connect to gas.

Sydney’s landmark decision comes two years after the council first expressed support for a gas ban.

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Mayor Clover Moore said the reforms would not only reduce emissions but also deliver health and financial benefits, noting that gas stoves have been linked to 12 per cent of Australian childhood asthma cases.

“Being dependent on gas is bad for the planet, bad for our finances and bad for our health,” she said.

“It is why this move received broad approval from a wide variety of stakeholders.

“Industry bodies from Ausgrid to the Property Council have endorsed this move, which reflects a broad community consensus on the need to end our dependency on gas.

“The reality is that gas is an expensive commodity that is expected to rise in price.”

Sydney is not alone in this groundbreaking shift.

Victoria led the charge, banning new gas connections for all new homes and residential developments requiring planning permission from January 2024.

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Even gas barbecues will be banned from January 1, 2027.

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Similarly, the ACT Government has halted new gas network connections from December 2023, with the long-term goal of phasing out gas completely by 2045.

While industrial and existing buildings are exempt from these immediate changes, and mixed-use developments can still install gas kitchens designed for easy conversion, the message is clear: the future of Australian real estate is electric.

For developers, this means adapting construction practices and material purchasing.

For homeowners, this means considering the long-term consequences of gas versus electric when renovating or purchasing, as all-electric homes are poised to become the new benchmark for modern, efficient and desirable living.