COUNCIL REGULATIONS
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GRANNY FLAT REGULATIONS
Navigating the often complex sea of Council regulations, approvals and restrictions can be a nightmare for even the most organised of Builders. Several things need to be checked and approved before the construction of your home can begin, so it’s important to choose a company that knows what it’s doing!
Before we start designing your home we will liaise with our Building Certifier and Town Planner to determine the development constraints that apply to your site, this preliminary report helps to guide us through the design process and helps to simplify the approval process later-on. While each job requires building approval there are a host of other approvals that might also be required for your project, including things such as development approval, siting relaxations, permission to build over sewer or stormwater pipes, and various reports (bushfire, flooding, soil, acoustic and so on).
There’s no need to worry about reports and approvals because Granny and Co will take care of it for you!
We are very proactive and upfront in the management of applications. While we seldom, if ever, encounter issues with Councils, we will work with you to achieve a design solution that will be approved.
Here are some FAQs if you’re thinking about building a granny flat.
Yes, depending on your Council the maximum size for a granny flat could be anywhere between 50-100m2. This creates a big discrepancy for clients in different regions and is one reason why Granny and Co Homes offers such a large range of granny flats plus a full customisation service that can adjust your preferred design to suit your region’s size restriction.
Brisbane City Council and the surrounding councils including Redlands, Logan, Moreton Shire, Ipswich, Sunshine and Gold Coast plus Scenic Rim all have separate regulations on the maximum sizes for granny flats as well as other building approval criteria. The good news is that you can typically build a one or two bedroom granny flat, or possibly even larger subject to an individual site assessment and Council approval.
Since you’ve made it here to our website we encourage you to read through the Granny Flat Regulations posted on our blog. This will help you to determine the size and other restrictions for your region.
We can assess your site to determine the best solution for you.
We prefer to develop low-risk strategies for our clients that meet Council’s requirements without too much fuss.
Depending on site constraints it may be necessary to lodge certain applications such as a siting variation (building close to boundaries), building over sewer or stormwater mains, bushfire reports, acoustic reports, and so on. You can relax, we’ve got you covered.
Most Councils permit 1 or 2 bedrooms. Talk to us if you require more than 2 bedrooms.
When recommending an outcome for our clients we consider a range of factors including the intended use, site conditions and buildability, cost, timeframe for approval, and whether it will improve the value of your property.
Granny flats are a great option for improving the value of your property because they take advantage of the existing yard to create an additional dwelling. However, did you know there may be other outcomes that will enhance your property’s value more than a granny flat?
A dual occupancy development is one example, it often comes without the size restriction of a granny flat which means you can build additional bedrooms (now or later-on) to create your perfect home. On some sites its possible to build a series of studios that are connected to a common area.
In some situations building a secondary dwelling (granny flat) will not be permitted, but a house extension is. We have many years of experience in building Fonzie flats, duplex-style extensions, second level extensions and house raising with upstairs/downstairs dwellings. Depending on your personal and family situation it might be easier to build an extension which practically-speaking, provides you with 2 dwellings that share certain utilities and/or internal stairs.
Call us to find out how to optimise your property, improve its value and enrich your life.
It is generally permitted to build a freestanding granny flat on a most sites, however Council policies vary on this point. Also, some Councils require the granny flat to be tucked behind the main house so it’s not visible from the street, others impose a maximum distance between the 2 dwellings and the Building Code requires a minimum separation for fire protection. When these requirements cannot be met it may be necessary to obtain development approval from Council or to look at an alternative such as a house extension.
The development constraints that apply to your site might necessitate building an attached granny flat (effectively creating a duplex). In certain situations we can build beside, under or above the existing dwelling to create a granny flat. A good example of this is the “Fonzie Flat” which is a granny flat built above a garage (for those who remember the TV show Happy Days). A granny flat can also be achieved by converting a garage into a self-contained studio or by building under a highset home. Certain upgrades may be necessary, such as structural support and fire separation. We can advise you on these aspects.
We have built granny flats on lots as small as 300m2 and we have also built 2 granny flats on the one site. Some clients who are just starting out on acreage may prefer to build a granny flat first, and then their family home or other studios when funds become available. We can assist you with a master plan and help you to stage your project.