What are granny flats? | A granny flat is a secondary dwelling that you build within the boundaries of your own property. The key thing is that they’re self-contained. | Who do granny flats work for? | Granny flats work well for the following types of people: - Those who have elderly relatives who they want to keep close to home.
- People who have children who want independence but can’t afford a place of their own.
- Those willing to downsize to the granny flat so that they can earn a rental income from their primary property.
- Novice investors who want to use granny flats as a route into the property investment sector.
- Seasoned investors who want to add value to the properties that they add to their portfolios.
| Do granny flats need to comply with building codes? | All granny flats must comply with both the Building Code of Australia and any relevant Australian Standards. | Can anyone build a granny flat on their block without Council approval? | A development application is not required so long as the application\granny flat meets specific requirements.
General points to consider: - The block of land is at least 450 square metres
- The granny flat must be no greater than 60 square metres
- The main dwelling and granny flat fall under the same title
- The granny flat must have an outside courtyard space of at least 24sqm
- The site must have a minimum street frontage of 12m (for blocks up to 900sqm)
- The granny flat is a minimum 1.8m from the main dwelling
- The granny flat is a minimum 3m from the rear boundary
- The granny flat is a minimum 0.9m from the side boundaries
- The granny flat is a minimum 3m from existing trees above 6m
If your block meets these minimum requirements than generally a complying development certificate (CDC) is all that's required. | | What does “Complying Development” mean? | If the design for your Granny Flat meets all the relevant criteria outlined in the SEPP then a private certifier can approve the plans on behalf of Council typically in just 14 days of lodgement. | Can I build a Granny Flat if my site does not meet these requirements? | Yes however Council approval will be required. | How long does the design/approval process take? | To process a CDC Application, it takes approximately 2 weeks. To process a Development Application DA, it takes on average 3-5 months, however each council have their own time frames. | |
