A secondary dwelling is one of the most common projects to go through complying development — which is exactly why it is worth checking the site before the plans are drawn.
A secondary dwelling built behind or attached to an existing house is a well-trodden complying development pathway. Where the lot and the design meet the standards, we can assess and determine the approval ourselves, and you avoid a development application entirely.
That is the reason granny flats are usually quick. It is also the reason they are usually the projects where a site problem surfaces late — because the owner has assumed the pathway is available before anyone has looked at the title.
The lot itself comes first: its size, its shape, its frontage, and what is already built on it. A lot that is already close to its limit for built-upon area will constrain a secondary dwelling before any design question arises.
Then the title. A covenant, an easement across the rear yard, or a restriction in the 88B instrument can each rule out the location you had in mind — and drainage easements in particular have a habit of running exactly where people want to put a granny flat.
Then the land itself. Heritage listing, certain flood or bushfire constraints and some environmentally sensitive land can exclude complying development regardless of the design.
Finally, the design: setbacks, height, private open space, landscaped area, privacy to the neighbours, and the drainage of the new roof area to a lawful point of discharge.
Send us the address and the title documents before you commission drawings. It is a short piece of work for us and it can save you a redesign.
We issue the Complying Development Certificate within 15 days of the lodgement date, where the application is complete.
From there it is the same path as any other build: a Principal Certifier appointed before work starts, critical stage inspections as the work reaches each point, and an Occupation Certificate at the end before the granny flat may be occupied or let. We can carry all of it.
Usually not. Where the lot and the design meet the standards for complying development, a registered private certifier can assess and determine the approval without a development application to council. Where they are not met, the project goes to council as a development application instead.
We issue the Complying Development Certificate within 15 days of the lodgement date where the application is complete. The realistic timeline for most owners is set by how quickly the plans and title documents are gathered.
A secondary dwelling may not be occupied until an Occupation Certificate has been issued. Once it has, whether it may be let separately depends on the approval and the applicable planning controls — ask us about your specific project.
Send us the address and the plans and we will come back to you with a fixed fee and what the certification will involve. Or call (02) 8772 4022 and we will talk it through.
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