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Dwellix

Granny flats and renovations in Melbourne

Dwellix builds two-bedroom granny flats and renovates homes across metropolitan and Greater Melbourne. The state’s small second dwelling rules apply in all 31 metropolitan councils, but your lot size, title and overlays decide the pathway. This page covers the Melbourne checks that matter most: the 300m² trigger, covenants and easements, flood and heritage overlays, and bushfire-prone land.

Key facts

  • 31 councils: 31 of Victoria’s 79 local government areas are in metropolitan Melbourne. (Victorian Government)
  • Flooding: the SBO, LSIO and Floodway Overlay each require a planning permit for buildings and works. (Melbourne Water)

Which councils make up metropolitan Melbourne?

The 31 metropolitan councils, grouped by Plan Melbourne region:

  • Inner: Melbourne, Port Phillip, Yarra. See also our Melbourne CBD page.
  • Inner South East: Bayside, Boroondara, Glen Eira, Stonnington.
  • Western: Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley, Wyndham.
  • Northern: Banyule, Darebin, Hume, Merri-bek, Nillumbik, Whittlesea. Plan Melbourne’s Northern region also includes Mitchell.
  • Eastern: Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse, Yarra Ranges.
  • Southern: Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Greater Dandenong, Kingston, Mornington Peninsula.

Sources: Victorian Government, Live in Melbourne; Planning Victoria, “Melbourne’s future planning framework”. Checked 8 October 2026.

Can I build a granny flat on my Melbourne block?

Often, if the lot, title and overlays allow it. The state basics are in the FAQs below and our small second dwellings guide.

On a lot under 300m² in a residential zone (other than the Low Density Residential Zone), a planning permit is required; check with your council.

What Melbourne councils add

  • Wyndham: in residential zones, a small second dwelling is prohibited unless the lot has no more than one existing dwelling, no other small second dwelling and no reticulated gas.
  • Melton: its guidance runs zone by zone, and the answer changes between residential, farming, green wedge and rural conservation zones, and where heritage, design, flooding or airport-related controls apply.
  • Yarra Ranges: its guidance sets conditions in heritage, design and neighbourhood character overlays, and lists bushfire and flooding among the hazards that bring a planning permit.

Check your council’s current page before you design.

Sources: Planning Victoria, Small second homes and VC282 announcement; BPC, “Small second dwelling”; Wyndham City; Melton City Council; Yarra Ranges Council. Checked 8 October 2026.

Two title checks before you design

Wyndham City’s guidance sets out two checks:

  1. Restrictive covenants. If a covenant on the title limits the lot to one house, you can’t build a small second home. You can check your title through Landata.
  2. Easements. A habitable structure such as a granny flat can’t be built over an easement. Footings must be at least 600 mm from stormwater infrastructure and 1 m from stormwater inspection pits.

Source: Wyndham City, “Find out if a restrictive covenant affects your property” and “Apply to build over an easement”, checked 8 October 2026.

Is your property in a flood overlay?

Check early, because each flood overlay brings a planning permit. Alongside the Urban Floodway Zone, three overlays apply in metropolitan Melbourne: the Special Building Overlay (SBO) for overland or stormwater flooding when drains overflow, the Land Subject to Inundation Overlay (LSIO) for waterway and coastal flooding, and the Floodway Overlay (FO).

The controls are based on a 1% chance (1-in-100-year) flood. Councils in the Port Phillip and Westernport region refer these applications to Melbourne Water. The state’s “generally no planning permit” guidance for granny flats covers land without flooding or other special controls.

Source: Melbourne Water, “Flood planning controls explained”, checked 8 October 2026.

Renovating in a heritage overlay

In a Heritage Overlay, external changes generally need a planning permit; internal alterations need one only where the schedule applies internal controls. Two councils show the scale and the rules:

  • Boroondara says it has over 15,000 heritage places. Its Municipal Wide Heritage Gap Study and Heritage Action Plan 2016 added 5,490 more properties to the Heritage Overlay.
  • Yarra says internal controls apply to a small number of properties. Places are graded individually significant, contributory or not contributory, and the higher the grading, the less change is allowed.

Homes built before 1990 may contain asbestos; only laboratory testing confirms it.

Sources: City of Boroondara, “Nominate a heritage building”; Yarra City Council, “Heritage overlay”; Planning Victoria, “Local heritage protection”; WorkSafe Victoria. Checked 8 October 2026.

What if your block is bushfire prone?

  • Bushfire Prone Area (BPA): a construction standard applies at building permit stage, measured as a bushfire attack level (BAL) under AS 3959: LOW, 12.5, 19, 29, 40 or FZ. If any part of the footprint is in a BPA, the whole building must meet the standard.
  • Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO): covers very high or extreme hazard areas and triggers a planning permit with defendable space, water supply and access requirements.

Vendor statements must disclose BPA status (Sale of Land Act 1962, s32C).

Source: Planning Victoria, “Building in the bushfire management overlay” and “Building in designated bushfire prone areas”, checked 8 October 2026.

Which renovation services suit Melbourne homes?

See all renovation services and building permits for renovations.

How Dwellix works in Melbourne

We take on projects across metropolitan and Greater Melbourne. Send us your address and we’ll confirm whether we can take on your project.

  1. Property check. Our feasibility check reviews your zone, overlays and lot size, and flags whether a planning permit is likely.
  2. Title check. During feasibility we review your title for covenants and easements.
  3. Design and approvals. You choose one of our three designs, each with two bedrooms and one bathroom. 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. Where a planning permit is needed, we prepare the application and lodge it with council on your behalf; the decision rests with council.
  4. Contract. Dwellix is registered with the BPC (CDB-U 102264). Home Warranty applies to eligible work valued at more than $20,000 under contracts signed from 1 July 2026, subject to eligibility, limits and exclusions.

Frequently asked questions

What are the granny flat laws in Melbourne?

Melbourne follows Victoria’s small second dwelling rules: on the same lot as an existing home, with a kitchen, bathroom and toilet, no reticulated gas and no separate sale. Since 15 October 2026, Amendment VC306 lets a small second dwelling of up to 80m² go ahead without a planning permit in many cases, unless an overlay or other control requires one or the lot is under 300m² in a residential zone (other than the Low Density Residential Zone). Changes to the Building Regulations are due to follow, so check the current building rules with your building surveyor. A building permit is required in every case.

Can I build a granny flat for my parents in Melbourne?

Yes. Anyone may live in a small second dwelling, including family.

Do I need a permit to renovate a house in a heritage overlay?

It depends on the work. A Heritage Overlay may mean a planning permit is needed, particularly for external changes; check with your council. Internal alterations, such as a kitchen or bathroom renovation, need one only where the overlay schedule applies internal controls. A building permit may also be needed.

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.