FAQs

Changes have been proposed to improve the clarity of the policy where it was unclear, support the ability to have an Ancillary Dwelling in front of a residence, and to provide design flexibility through the development of detached habitable rooms.

Before building a granny flat, bring your plans in to the Shire to find out what approvals you will need.

You may not need planning approval if you already meet the requirements of the R-Codes (in the Residential Zone) or the Planning Scheme/ Policies (in all other zones).

You will always need a building permit before starting earthworks and construction.

Everybody needs good neighbours   

We encourage everyone to talk to their neighbours as early and as much as possible when making development decisions. Conversation helps to build relationships and to share information.

If your neighbour is building an Ancillary Dwelling which meets all relevant planning requirements (including the boundary setbacks that apply in your zone), they may not need planning approval which would mean no formal consultation would need to take place.

If a proposed Ancillary Dwelling requires planning approval, the Shire's planning staff will identify if consultation with neighbours is appropriate and may contact you when this is the case.

Although an Ancillary Dwelling may be self-contained it is required to be limited in size, located alongside and dependent on a Single House. It provides accommodation for extended and multi-generational families and small subsidiary units for affordable rental accommodation.

By contrast a complete second house (referred to as a Grouped Dwelling) may be entirely separate, and comparable in size and function to a Single House. It can also potentially be subdivided.

Within the Shire are a number of Special Residential zoned areas - these are low density residential estates with lots usually between 2,000 and 10,000 square metres. These estates typically have no fencing, larger setbacks and a limited range of potential land uses.

Some residents buy into these estates so that they have space for larger houses, sheds and gardens. Other times residents in these estates want less development and more space from their neighbours.

To try and maintain a balance between these competing interests the Draft Policy proposes a requirement for 80% open space in the Special Residential Zone. This means that the Shire will not support a proposed Ancillary Dwelling that results in more than 20% of a lot being developed - preserving the low density nature of these estates.

Boundary setbacks for an Ancillary Dwelling will be exactly the same as they are for other development in the same zone. An Ancillary dwelling can therefore be built in the same location as a Single House.

This includes building envelopes where applicable (Special Rural Zone and similar).

The current Policy identifies that the Shire may support the use of an Ancillary Dwelling for hosted accommodation (where an owner or manager lives on site) but not for unhosted accommodation in the Residential, Special Residential or Special Rural zones.

This reflects the feedback we have received from our community over the past few years - hosted accommodation is accepted as resulting in fewer issues for neighbours.

Under the current Planning Scheme a proposal to use an Ancillary Dwelling for short stay accommodation requires planning approval, inclusive of advertising in most circumstances.