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Granny flats and renovations in Geelong

Dwellix builds two-bedroom granny flats and renovates homes in Greater Geelong and the surrounding region. Local rules shape both: the City’s small second dwelling guidance, a coastal flood overlay across the Bellarine Peninsula and Corio Bay, bushfire controls with CFA referral, and a graded heritage system with like-for-like repair rules.

Key facts

  • G21 councils: Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Colac Otway, Golden Plains and Queenscliffe. (G21)
  • Two dwellings per lot: the City says its planning scheme allows only two; more needs a multi-dwelling planning approval. (City of Greater Geelong)
  • Bushfire: Bushfire Management Overlay applications are referred to the CFA. (City of Greater Geelong)

Which councils make up the Geelong region?

The G21 Alliance joins five councils: Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Colac Otway, Golden Plains and Queenscliffe. Regional Development Victoria’s Barwon partnership covers four of them, while Golden Plains sits in its Grampians region. This page draws on City of Greater Geelong and Surf Coast guidance; for the other councils, check their own planning information.

Sources: G21, “About G21”; Regional Development Victoria, “Barwon Regional Partnership”. Checked 8 October 2026.

What does Geelong council say about granny flats?

Usually no planning permit where no flooding, environmental or special controls apply, and a building permit in every case. The City of Greater Geelong adds local points:

  • Its planning scheme allows only two dwellings per lot. More than two needs a multi-dwelling planning approval.
  • Council cannot permit subdividing a lot that contains only the small second dwelling.
  • The dwelling must include a kitchen sink, a food preparation area, a bath or shower, and a toilet and basin. It can’t use gas and needs no car space.

Source: City of Greater Geelong, “Small second dwelling”, checked 8 October 2026.

Who issues building permits in Geelong?

The City’s Building Services can act as your building surveyor, or you can use a private surveyor. Its building permits page adds:

  • Turning a garage into a living space requires the building to comply with the rules for its new use.
  • The building information certificate shows whether land is flood-liable or in a termite-designated area. In designated termite areas, the building permit must include treatments.
  • Unsewered land needs an onsite wastewater (septic) permit.

Source: City of Greater Geelong, “Building permits”, checked 8 October 2026.

Restumping has its own Geelong guide: restumping and reblocking in Geelong.

Is your Geelong block bushfire prone?

Some land is in a Bushfire Prone Area (BPA), some in a Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO), and some in both. BMO planning applications are referred to the CFA. In a BPA, new dwellings and alterations or additions must be built to AS 3959, with a bushfire attack level (BAL) assessment at the building permit stage.

Source: City of Greater Geelong, “Bushfire Management Overlay”, checked 8 October 2026.

How does the coastal flood overlay (LSIO2) affect building?

It adds a planning step and design criteria. Amendment C394, gazetted on 3 September 2020, applied a Land Subject to Inundation Overlay (LSIO2) based on the Bellarine Peninsula–Corio Bay Local Coastal Hazard Assessment (2015). State policy requires planning for 0.8 m of sea level rise by 2100.

The council says LSIO2 applies to coastal properties in Avalon, Lara, Corio, Geelong, East Geelong, Newcomb, Moolap, Leopold, Bellarine, Portarlington, Indented Head, St Leonards, Swan Bay, Ocean Grove, Wallington, Barwon Heads, Connewarre and Breamlea.

The Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) applies its own criteria to Geelong’s LSIO2. For a single dwelling in an existing residential area, they limit flood depth on the access route at today’s flood level and set a minimum floor level based on the projected 2070 flood level. The CMA gives free floodplain development advice. Because LSIO2 is a flooding control, the City’s “usually no planning permit” guidance for granny flats doesn’t cover land inside it.

Sources: City of Greater Geelong, “Amendment C394”; Corangamite CMA, “Floodplain Development Guidelines” and “Floodplain Management”. Checked 8 October 2026.

Renovating a heritage home in Geelong

Geelong grades heritage places A (State, on the Victorian Heritage Register), B (Regional) and C (Local), both in the Heritage Overlay, and D (Contributory, inside heritage precincts). Even a non-significant property inside a heritage precinct needs a permit for external works.

Like-for-like maintenance usually needs no permit. The council’s examples:

  • Replacing an iron roof with iron is fine; switching to tiles needs a permit.
  • Replacing timber sash windows with matching double-glazed timber may not need a permit; switching to aluminium does.

The council says heritage listing shouldn’t raise insurance premiums, but confirm with your insurer.

The Greater Geelong Heritage Design Guidelines (July 2026) trace local styles from Early Victorian, as in Geelong West, through Italianate, Boom and Edwardian to Interwar Bungalows, often weatherboard in regional towns, and Post-war homes. For renovations they say:

  • two-storey additions should be visually recessive, with a minimum 5 m setback from the existing front wall considered;
  • solar panels should go on rear roof faces and be avoided on front roofs;
  • garages and carports should go at the rear where possible.

The City’s heritage advisor is a qualified conservation practitioner, and the City recommends a pre-application meeting with the advisor and a town planner. Homes built before 1990 may contain asbestos.

Sources: City of Greater Geelong, “Heritage places”, “Heritage – common questions”, “Heritage advisory service” and “Heritage Design Guidelines” (July 2026). Checked 8 October 2026.

What’s different on the Surf Coast?

Surf Coast Shire’s guidance on small second dwellings highlights:

  • a planning permit for a granny flat in a Bushfire Management Overlay;
  • possible permits for removing vegetation under an Environmental Significance or Significant Landscape Overlay;
  • a septic permit where there is no sewer;
  • a general prohibition on habitable structures over easements;
  • a private building surveyor for the building permit, which is required in every case.

Source: Surf Coast Shire, “Second Small Dwellings”, checked 8 October 2026.

Which renovations suit Geelong homes?

See all renovation services.

How Dwellix works in the Geelong region

We take on projects across the Geelong region. Send us your address and we’ll confirm whether we can take on your project.

  1. Feasibility. Our feasibility check reviews your zone, overlays (including LSIO2 and the BMO) and lot size.
  2. Design. You choose one of our three designs, each with two bedrooms and one bathroom.
  3. Permits. If your project needs a building permit, we handle the permit process for you. You formally appoint the building surveyor, and we can recommend one and manage everything with them. The engineer and energy rater are coordinated by Dwellix.
  4. Contract. Dwellix is registered with the BPC (CDB-U 102264). Home Warranty applies to eligible work under contracts signed from 1 July 2026, subject to eligibility, limits and exclusions.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a planning permit for a granny flat in Geelong?

Usually not, says the City of Greater Geelong, where no flooding, environmental or other special controls apply. A permit is needed on a lot under 300m² in a residential zone (other than the Low Density Residential Zone), and flooding controls such as LSIO2 change the answer. A building permit is required in every case.

Can I add a granny flat if my Geelong lot already has two dwellings?

Only with further approval. The City says its planning scheme allows only two dwellings per lot, and more than two needs a multi-dwelling planning approval.

Can I replace windows in a Geelong heritage home without a permit?

Possibly. The council says replacing timber sash windows with matching double-glazed timber may not need a permit, while switching to aluminium does. Like-for-like maintenance usually needs no permit; ask the City’s heritage advisor first.

Do I need a planning permit for a granny flat on the Surf Coast?

In some places. Surf Coast Shire says a granny flat in a Bushfire Management Overlay needs a planning permit, and vegetation, septic and easement rules can add requirements. A building permit is required in every case, through a private building surveyor.

Start with your property

Building a granny flat? Check your block. Planning a renovation? Enquire. Prefer email? Write to sales@dwellix.com.au.

General information only, checked 8 October 2026. Rules change; confirm requirements for your property with your building surveyor or council.