Step by step
- Check the lot. Zoning, R-Code density, easements, sewer lines, bushfire mapping and any heritage or estate controls.
- Fit the design. Make sure the granny flat is 70 m² or less and meets the setbacks, open space and privacy rules. Small changes here can avoid planning approval altogether.
- Planning approval, only if needed. If the design can't meet the standard rules, we prepare and lodge a development application first.
- Drawings and reports. Floor plans, elevations, sections, engineering, an energy efficiency assessment and a BAL assessment if the lot is bushfire-prone.
- Building permit. We lodge the application, either the standard route (council checks it) or the certified route with a private building surveyor's certificate.
- Build and inspections. Your builder builds it, and the council may inspect along the way.
- Finish up. Once complete, the builder lodges a notice of completion and the services are connected.
How long it takes
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Checks, design and documents | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Planning approval (if needed) | About 6 to 8 weeks, sometimes longer |
| Building permit, standard route | Up to 25 business days after lodgement |
| Building permit, certified route | Up to 10 business days after lodgement |
Builder, kit or modular?
A registered builder will often handle the permit as part of the build. With a kit or a modular granny flat, the permit is often left to you. That is where we come in: we take the supplier's drawings and engineering and turn them into a complete application for your lot.