Small Second Dwelling

It is a small self-contained dwelling with a gross floor area of 60 square metres or less, built on the same land as an existing dwelling.

It must have all of the following:

• a kitchen sink and food preparation facilities
• a bath or shower
• a toilet and wash basin.

• In most cases, a planning permit is not required, but some exceptions apply.
• If your land is in a Residential Growth, General Residential, or Neighbourhood Residential Zone, and the lot size is greater than 300 square metres, you usually don’t need a permit if:
  • there is only one main house on the land
  • you are building just one small second dwelling
  • the second dwelling has no reticulated natural gas connection.

You will need a planning permit if:

• Your land area is less than 300 square metres.
• Your land is affected by an overlay that requires a planning permit.
• Extra restrictions apply, like covenants or agreements on the title.

Check your property and title details

• Obtain a planning property report from the Land Victoria website to confirm zone and overlay requirements.
• Obtain a copy of the certificate of title from the LANDATA website (fees apply).

• Yes. A building permit is always required to ensure safety and compliance with building standards.

• No. The small second dwelling must remain on the same lot as the existing dwelling.

• If you are unsure about planning permit requirements, request written advice from Council Request for Written Planning Advice (fees apply).
• More information:
  • Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) website: Small Second Homes
  • Victorian Building Authority (VBA) website: Small Second Homes and Planning and Building Permits