What is the Land Use layer?
The Land Use layer shows how land is currently being used across South Australia, colour-coded by category such as commercial, education and agriculture. You'll find it on the Landchecker map under Map Layers > Planning > Land Use.
Unlike planning zones, which show what land is allowed to be used for, the Land Use layer shows what each parcel is actually being used for. This makes it easy to see the real mix of activity in a street, suburb or region at a glance.
Who it's for: property developers, real estate agents, valuers, conveyancers and investors who want to understand the surrounding land uses before making a decision on a site in South Australia.
Plan access: The Land Use layer is available on all Landchecker plans, including Free. Adjusting layer opacity is available on Advanced and Enterprise plans.
How do I turn on the Land Use layer?
To view land use in South Australia, open the map and switch the layer on from the Map Layers panel.
Create or log in to your Landchecker account.
Search for an address or location in South Australia, or move the map to the area you want to explore.
Click the Map Layers icon on the left side of the map to open the Map Layers panel.
Under Planning, tick the Land Use checkbox.
Expand Land Use to see the list of categories. All categories are shown by default.
Untick any category you don't need, so only the land uses you care about appear on the map.
Tip: You can also type "Land Use" into the Search layers box at the top of the panel to find it quickly.
What do the land use colours mean?
Each land use category in South Australia has its own colour on the map, shown next to its checkbox in the Land Use list.
Category | What it shows |
Agriculture | Land used for farming and other rural production |
Commercial | Land used for offices and other business activity |
Education | Schools, universities and other education facilities |
Food Industry | Land used for food processing and related industry |
Forestry | Land used for timber plantations and forestry |
Horticulture | Land used for orchards, vineyards, market gardens and similar crops |
Livestock | Land used for grazing and raising animals |
Mining | Mines, quarries and related extraction sites |
Non Private Residential | Shared or group accommodation that isn't a private home, such as aged care or hostels |
Public Institution | Hospitals, government buildings, places of worship and similar public facilities |
Recreation | Parks, sports grounds and other recreation areas |
Reserve | Conservation areas and nature reserves |
Residential | Private homes, including houses, units and apartments |
Retail Commercial | Shops, shopping centres and other retail businesses |
Rural Residential | Homes on larger lots in rural or semi-rural areas |
Utilities | Infrastructure for services such as power, water, gas and sewerage |
Vacant | Land with no current use |
Vacant Urban Land | Empty land within urban areas |
Some categories use similar shades, such as Recreation and Reserve, or Rural Residential and Vacant. To tell them apart, untick the categories you don't need so only one is shown at a time.
How do I see the land use for a property?
Properties in South Australia show their land use category in the property panel on the right side of the map.
Search for a South Australian address in the search bar, or click a property on the map.
In the property panel on the right, make sure the Info tab is selected.
Under Property Details, find Land Use (Generalised).
The property's land use category is shown here, with a colour swatch that matches the colour used on the map. For example, a property classified as Retail Commercial shows a blue swatch.
You'll see Planning Zone in the same section, so you can compare how the property is used with what its zone allows.
How can I make the Land Use layer easier to read?
A few settings make the Land Use layer easier to read, especially in busy areas like the Adelaide CBD.
Adjust the opacity (Advanced and Enterprise plans): Use the Opacity slider under Land Use to make the colours lighter or stronger. It's set to 60% by default. Lower it to see more of the map underneath, or raise it to make categories stand out.
Show only what you need: Untick categories you're not interested in. For example, tick only Commercial to see where business activity is concentrated in a suburb.
Combine with other layers: Turn on Planning Zones or Planning Overlays at the same time to compare how land is used with what the planning rules allow.
Switch to high-res view: Pair the layer with High Resolution Aerial Imagery to match each colour to the buildings and land you can see. Zoom in to load high-resolution coverage where it's available.
Clear layers quickly: Click Clear at the top of the Map Layers panel to turn off all active layers at once.
What's the difference between land use and planning zones?
The Land Use layer and the Planning Zones layer answer two different questions about a property in South Australia.
| Land Use | Planning Zones |
What it shows | How land is actually being used today | How land is allowed to be used under planning rules |
Best for | Understanding the real mix of activity around a site | Checking what development may be permitted on a site |
Where to find it | Map Layers > Planning > Land Use | Map Layers > Planning > Planning Zones |
Where is land use data available?
The Land Use layer is currently available for properties in South Australia. When you view the map outside South Australia, the layer won't display any land use colours.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Land Use layer show?
The Land Use layer shows how land in South Australia is currently being used, colour-coded by category such as commercial, education, agriculture and food industry.
Where do I find the Land Use layer in Landchecker?
Open the Map, click the Map Layers icon, then tick Land Use under Planning.
Is land use the same as zoning?
No. Land use shows what a property is actually being used for, while zoning shows what the planning rules allow it to be used for. A property can be used differently from its zone, so it's worth checking both layers.
Can I show only one land use category?
Yes. Expand Land Use in the Map Layers panel and untick every category except the one you want to see.
Why can't I see the land use colours on the map?
Check that Land Use is ticked and that at least one category is selected. Also make sure you're viewing an area in South Australia. If you're on an Advanced or Enterprise plan and the colours look faint, try raising the Opacity slider.
How do I check the land use for one property?
Search for the address or click the property on the map. In the Info tab of the property panel, the land use category is shown under Property Details > Land Use (Generalised).
Need more help?
If you have questions about the Land Use layer, chat with our team using the live chat button in the bottom-right corner of Landchecker.