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No Council Approval Required for Granny Flats

Did you know that, if your property satisfies certain criteria, you don’t need to obtain council approval to build a granny flat? The current NSW legislation enables homeowners to get authorisation to build a secondary dwelling in as little as 10 days, without council approval or neighbour objections.

Can you build a granny flat without council approval?

Yes. A granny flat does not require council approval and may be authorised instead by obtaining a Complying Development Certificate (CDC). This fast-track planning and building approval process is akin to what is required for building, for example, a swimming pool, or removing or pruning a tree. As such, it is extremely convenient for homeowners looking to expand their living space based on their specific needs.

Newcastle Granny Flat Regulations

A secondary dwelling, or granny flat, is a self-contained accommodation which can be separate, attached, or contained within an existing house on a property. It can be a 1 or 2 storey dwelling. If your project satisfies the minimum requirements set out by the NSW Affordable Housing State Environmental Planning Policy, it may qualify as complying development.

This is possible thanks to the NSW Affordable Housing State Environmental Planning Policy (AHSEPP), approved in 2009. With this policy, the NSW Government aims to support the development of secondary dwellings as a form of affordable rental housing.

Minimum Site Requirements to Build a Granny Flat in Newcastle

One of the most common questions we are asked about our granny flats is ‘does my backyard meet the requirements for a granny flat to be built?’ Some of the minimum site requirements for a granny flat to be approved as a complying development include:[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_icon type=”openiconic” icon_openiconic=”vc-oi vc-oi-resize-full-alt” color=”custom” align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1525233924767{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}” custom_color=”#b8a370″][vc_column_text]

Minimum Block Size

Your property must have a minimum block size of 450m² in area.

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Property Setback

You must maintain a 3m setback from the rear boundary and 0.9m from side boundaries.

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Residential Zoning

Your property must be zoned residential. Specifically, residential zones R1, R2, R3, R4 and RU5 are approved for complying developments.

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Existing Trees

You must maintain a distance of 3m from any existing trees that are over 6m in height.

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Property Width

Your property must have a 12m width at the building line of the existing dwelling. If your property does not meet this requirement, you can apply for an attached granny flat.

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Floor Area

Your granny flat must have a maximum 60m² area. However, this does not include verandas, patios, or garages.

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What is a granny flat or secondary dwelling?

What is a Complying Development?

A complying development does not require council approval and may be authorised instead by obtaining a Complying Development Certificate (CDC). This fast-track planning and building approval process is akin to what is required for building, for example, a swimming pool, or removing or pruning a tree. As such, it is extremely convenient for homeowners looking to expand their living space based on their specific needs.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

The diagram above illustrates the requirements for a block of land between 450m² & 900m² in size. These requirements change for properties over 900m². Please refer to Supporting secondary dwellings (granny flats) fact sheet for further details of large site requirements.

Have any questions? Give us a call and our team of consultants will walk you through the process and offer expert advice for your exact situation.[/vc_column_text][ut_animated_image size=”full” link_type=”custom” image=”1414″ link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fnewcastledesignergrannyflats.com.au%2Fdownload-secondary-dwelling-fact-sheet%2F||target:%20_blank|”][vc_column_text]Complying development is a fast-track approval process which, thanks to a set of prescribed approval conditions, ensures rigorous planning and environmental requirements are respected. By going through this approval pathway, your granny flat may be approved within 10 to 20 days from application lodging. Full development application and council deliberation are not necessary for complying development projects.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=”column-no-council-approval” width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1535587671941{border-top-width: 2px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-left-width: 2px !important;}”][vc_raw_js el_class=”approval-form-border”]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[/vc_raw_js][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”60px”][/vc_column][/vc_row]