Faster 10-day permit processing
You may qualify for a streamlined permit process called VicSmart. Learn more about VicSmart.
To apply, select ‘VicSmart’ when prompted in your online planning permit application.
Small second home
Whether you need a planning permit to build a small second home depends on the land’s size, its zone, and any overlays.
You must apply for a permit if either your zone or overlays require you to get one.
A small second home must be:
- 60 square metres or less in floor area
- on the same lot as an existing home
- used as a home
- have a kitchen, bathroom, and toilet.
When you need a planning permit
Land less than 300 square metres
You must get a planning permit if your land is less than 300 square metres and in a:
- Mixed Use Zone
- Residential Growth Zone
- General Residential Zone
- Neighbourhood Residential Zone.
A permit is not required in a residential zone if the land is 300sqm or more. However, you might still need a permit depending on your overlays.
Check your land’s zone
How we assess your application
For land less than 300 square metres, we assess your application against factors including:
- location of the structure on the land
- building height
- overlooking
- overshadowing.
Land in an overlay
You always need a permit for land in the following overlays:
- Heritage Overlay
- Neighbourhood Character Overlay.
You might need a permit in the following overlays:
- Special Building Overlay
- Land Subject to Inundation
- Design and Development Overlay
- Significant Landscape Overlay
- Public Acquisition Overlay.
Check your property's overlays.
Larger second home or multiple homes
You always need a planning permit to build a larger second home (over 60 sqm) or multiple homes on the lot.
We assess your application against factors including:
- neighbourhood character
- street setback
- building height
- overlooking
- overshadowing
- landscaping
- garden area.
Documents to prepare
When applying for a planning permit, you must supply the following documents.
General
Plans
1:100 scale and northern orientation, including:
- existing conditions, including all significant features of the site such as existing home, trees, sheds, fences, and crossovers.
- elevations of the existing home
- demolition plans and elevations
- proposed plans and elevations
- overshadowing diagrams for 22 September
- overlooking diagrams
- section diagrams.
Additional documents
Apply now
If you need a paper planning permit application form, including a VicSmart form, contact the planning department on 03 8290 3329.
For more information, visit Applying for a Planning Permit.
Building permits
You will also need a building permit. To learn more, visit Building permits