Dual occupancy rules in Casey
Building a dual occupancy in Casey? City of Casey applies the Victoria planning framework. Here's what that means locally — plus the overlays worth checking on your specific block.
Allowed in residential zones with a planning permit, subject to garden area and ResCode
Usually yes, with a planning permit. Victoria sets no statewide minimum lot size for a second dwelling, but the mandatory minimum garden area and the Townhouse and Low-Rise Code standards mean most successful dual occupancies sit on lots of roughly 500 m² or more.
Key rules at a glance
| Minimum lot size | No statewide minimum. Practically around 500-600 m² to fit two dwellings and still meet garden area (indicative - driven by garden area, setbacks and open space rather than a mapped number). |
| Minimum garden area | Applies in the General Residential and Neighbourhood Residential zones only: 25 percent for lots of 400-500 m², 30 percent above 500 and up to 650 m², 35 percent above 650 m². Lots under 400 m² are exempt, and there is no garden area requirement in the Residential Growth, Mixed Use, Township or Housing Choice and Transport zones. |
| Assessment code | Clause 55, now the Townhouse and Low-Rise Code, which introduced deemed-to-comply standards on 31 March 2025 under Amendment VC267. |
| Approval pathway | Planning permit required, except for a small second dwelling of 60 m² or less on a lot of 300 m² or more. VicSmart 10 business day pathway if all deemed-to-comply standards are met, otherwise a standard advertised application. |
| Maximum height | Mandatory 11 m and 3 storeys in the General Residential Zone; 9 m and 2 storeys in the Neighbourhood Residential Zone (indicative - zone schedules vary). |
| Can it be subdivided or strata titled? | Yes, through a separate two-lot subdivision permit. Since 16 October 2025 an eligible two-lot subdivision can also use the 10 business day VicSmart pathway. A public open space contribution is normally payable. |
| Typical timeframe | 10 business days under VicSmart; commonly 4-8 months for a standard advertised application. |
| Zones permitted | Dwelling is a Section 1 use in the General Residential (GRZ), Neighbourhood Residential (NRZ), Residential Growth (RGZ), Mixed Use (MUZ), Township (TZ) and Housing Choice and Transport (HCTZ) zones, including their schedules. Clause 32.08-7 then requires a planning permit to construct two or more dwellings on a lot, or a further dwelling where one already exists. In the Low Density Residential, Rural Living, Farming and Rural Activity zones a second dwelling is a Section 2 use with its own servicing tests. |
Heritage, flood, bushfire and environmental controls on your specific lot can remove the fast-track and require a full application — even when the general rules say you're fine.
How often this applies in Casey
These are the overlays that can remove the fast-track, measured across every parcel in Casey from the same data behind our zoning map. They describe the council, not your block, and they are counted separately — one parcel can carry more than one, so they cannot be added together.
| Overlay | Share of parcels | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage | 0.44% | 714 parcels flagged. The rest are mapped and sit outside it. |
| Flood | 9.22% | 14,979 parcels flagged. The rest are mapped and sit outside it. |
| Bushfire | 2.1% | 3,412 parcels flagged. The rest are mapped and sit outside it. |
The most common zone in Casey is GENERAL RESIDENTIAL ZONE - SCHEDULE 1, covering 52.0% of its 162,376 parcels. What you can build is decided by your own lot's zone, not the council's most common one.
Measured from our mapped parcel data, snapshot taken 2026-09-06. Overlays are checked live for a specific address on the address tool.
Dual occupancys in Casey
City of Casey is the authority for Casey in South-East Melbourne. The statewide Victoria rules above set the baseline; the council can apply extra local controls, and heritage, flood or bushfire overlays on your lot can change what's allowed.
Visit City of Casey ↗ Full Victoria rules →
See the Casey zoning map → — every parcel in Casey by zone, lot size and mapped constraints.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need council approval for a dual occupancy in Casey?
Usually yes. In Victoria, a dual occupancy generally needs an application, and City of Casey is the authority that assesses it. See the full state rules for the pathway and what's required.
Which council approves a dual occupancy in Casey?
City of Casey is the consent authority for Casey (South-East Melbourne). You can review local planning controls on the council website and lodge through your state planning portal.
What is the minimum land size for a dual occupancy in Victoria?
There is no statewide minimum. What binds is the garden area requirement - 25 to 35 percent on lots of 400 m² or more in the General Residential and Neighbourhood Residential zones - plus setbacks, private open space and car parking under the Townhouse and Low-Rise Code. In practice most dual occupancies are built on lots of about 500 m² and up, although well-designed schemes do succeed on smaller lots in the General Residential and Residential Growth zones.
Sources
- Townhouse and Low-Rise Code - Planning Victoria ↗
- Faster approvals for two homes on a lot and subdivisions - Planning Victoria ↗
- VicSmart permits - Planning Victoria ↗
- Victoria Planning Provisions clause 32.08 General Residential Zone ↗
Related building rules
General guidance only — not professional planning advice. Local requirements in Casey can differ from the statewide summary and change over time; always confirm with City of Casey before starting work. Last reviewed: July 2026.
Talk to a town planner in Casey
This page covers the general rules. A qualified town planner can tell you what applies to your actual block — the zone, the overlays and the approval path — before you spend money on drawings.
- Qualified, practising town planners
- Advice on your property, not a generic rule
- No cost, no obligation