Granny Flats rules in Victoria (2026)
Yes. Since December 2023 a small second dwelling of 60 m² or less on a lot over 300 m² needs no planning permit where no triggering overlay applies - you only need a building permit.
Usually no planning permit needed
Yes. Since December 2023 a small second dwelling of 60 m² or less on a lot over 300 m² needs no planning permit where no triggering overlay applies - you only need a building permit.
Key rules at a glance
| Maximum floor area | 60 m² (gross, all storeys) |
| Minimum lot size | 300 m² for the no-permit path |
| Planning permit | Not required if standards met and no overlays |
| Building permit | Always required |
| Setbacks | Per Building Regulations / Clause 54 siting |
| Subdivision | Cannot be subdivided or sold separately |
| Can it be rented? | Yes |
| Zones permitted | A small second dwelling is a Section 1 permit-not-required use in the General Residential (GRZ), Neighbourhood Residential (NRZ), Residential Growth (RGZ), Low Density Residential (LDRZ), Mixed Use (MUZ), Township (TZ), Housing Choice and Transport (HCTZ), Rural Living (RLZ), Farming (FZ) and Rural Activity (RAZ) zones, including all their schedules. The 300 m² permit trigger in clause 32.08-6 applies in the urban residential zones only - in LDRZ, RLZ, FZ and RAZ the buildings and works clause catches Section 2 uses only, so no lot-size trigger applies there. |
Conditions & eligibility
- Applies to a self-contained dwelling of 60 m² or less on the same lot as an existing home.
- No planning permit on lots over 300 m² unless a flood, environmental, heritage or bushfire overlay applies.
- A building permit is always required.
- Cannot be subdivided or sold separately from the main house.
- On lots under 300 m² a planning permit (via VicSmart) is required.
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 approval works in Victoria
Build under the small second dwelling rules introduced by Amendment VC253: no planning permit if the home is 60 m² or less on a lot over 300 m² with no flood, environmental, heritage or bushfire overlay, though you still lodge for a building permit. On smaller lots or where an overlay applies, a planning permit (often via the fast VicSmart process) is required.
Local councils administer the overlays (flood, heritage, bushfire, environmental) that can reintroduce the need for a planning permit.
Granny Flats rules by council in Victoria
Local councils apply the Victoria framework and can add their own controls. Pick your council:
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a planning permit for a granny flat in Victoria?
Usually no. Since December 2023 a small second dwelling of 60 m² or less on a lot over 300 m² needs no planning permit if there are no flood, environmental, heritage or bushfire overlays, but a building permit is still required.
How big can a granny flat be in Victoria?
Up to 60 m² gross floor area, measured across all storeys from the outside of the external walls.
Can I rent out a small second dwelling in Victoria?
Yes, you can rent it out, but it cannot be subdivided or sold separately from the main house.
Sources
- Small second dwellings - Planning Victoria ↗
- Small second dwelling siting guide SI-03 - Building and Plumbing Commission (VIC) ↗
- Victoria Planning Provisions clause 32.08 General Residential Zone ↗
Related building rules
This is general guidance, not professional planning advice. Figures are summarised from the sources above and can change — confirm with your council or the Planning Victoria before starting work. Last reviewed: July 2026.
Talk to a town planner in Victoria
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