That’s correct, you don’t need council clearance to create a granny flat in Australia, but your home must meet a certain granny flat complying checklist.
The Affordable Housing State Environment Planning Policy (SEPP) was announced by the NSW Government, permitting all residential house owners (and property investors) with a property greater than 450m2 (Having a minimum street frontage of 12 meters) to develop a granny flat on their land with Granny Flat Solutions best idea.
This is fantastic news for astute investors, homeowners, and retirees, as it means you can have a two-bedroom granny flat erected in your backyard in only four weeks, with no council approval (and no unwarranted neighbor objections).
This guide will teach you how to:
- Site requirements at a minimum
- criteria for setbacks
- Zoning regulations for residential areas
GRANNY FLAT MINIMUM SITE REQUIREMENTS:
A granny flat is a 60m2 self-contained little dwelling constructed in the yard of a larger property. The following are the major requirements set forth by the city council for granny flats:
- A minimum of 450m2 of property is required.
- Residential zoning is required.
- At the existing dwelling’s building line, the land must have a minimum width of 12 meters. You can apply for a connected granny apartment if your house does not fit this criterion.
- Maintain a 3 m rear setback and a 0.9 m side setback from the property lines.
- Maintain a 3m distance from any existing trees that are above 4m tall.
- The granny flat can have a maximum outdoor space of 60m2.
- Per qualifying block, a maximum of one granny flat is allowed.
If your property does not match the above NSW standards for CDC Approval, our experts can assess it to determine if a Development Assessment through your local council can be conducted to approve your project. Email us today to learn more about the DA Approval process.
The requirements vary for houses larger than 900m2 in NSW, according to council regulations. Refer to the chart below for NSW council needs for lots between 900m2 and 1,500m2, as well as lots larger than 1,500m2. You may also find out more by downloading the NSW granny flat policy document.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A GRANNY FLAT SETBACK IN ANY BLOCK SIZE:
SCENARIO 1: CAN PEOPLE CONSTRUCT A DOUBLE-STOREY GRANDFATHER’S FLAT ON MY LAND?
Yes, as per the SEPP for Inexpensive Rental Housing, a granny flat can be built on top of an existing house, above a garage, or as a standalone two-story granny flat. The total height of your property must not exceed 8.5m, and the granny flat arrangement must meet NSW legislation’s front and back setback standards. Find out if you can construct a two-story granny apartment by emailing Granny Flat Solutions.
REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONING
To create a granny flat, your property must be designated residential, as previously stated. Residential zones R1, R2, R3, R4, and RU5 are expressly approved for compliant developments.
- General Residential Zone R1
- Low-Density Residential Zone R2
- Residential Zone R3 (Medium Density)
- High-Density Residential Zone R4
- Residential Zone R5 (Large Lot) (via DA only)
- Alternatively, for the local council region, analogous zones.
Conclusion:- This page is just intended to serve as a guide to assist you to understand the current NSW criteria for constructing a secondary house on your property. Other important factors must be examined, and a site assessment will be required to evaluate whether or not constructing a granny flat on your property is appropriate. Make an appointment with Granny Flat Solutions for a free site assessment.
