Secondary Dwellings

A secondary dwelling (commonly referred to as a granny flat) is self-contained accommodation within, attached to, or separate from the principal dwelling.

For a development to be considered a secondary dwelling, it must be:

• established in conjunction with a principal dwelling
• on the same lot of land (not being a lot in a strata plan or community title scheme) as the principal dwelling
• within, attached to, or separate from the principal dwelling

• in the residential zones have a maximum floor area of 60m² or 25 per cent of the total floor area principal dwelling (whichever is greater)

• in the rural zones have a maximum floor area of 100m2 or 50 per cent of the total floor area principal dwelling (whichever is greater)

Zoning

A secondary dwelling may be permissible with consent in the following zones under the Bellingen Shire Council Local Environmental Plan - 2010

• RU1 Primary Production
• RU2 Rural Landscape
• RU4 Primary Production Small Lots
• R1 General Residential
• R5 Large Lot Residential
  
  

What if my land is bushfire or flood prone?

If the property is identified as bushfire prone land a bushfire hazard assessment will be required to be submitted with your application.

If the property is identified as flood prone land, the floor will need to meet the floor height planning level for the property, and the development application will need to address the requirements of Chapter 8 – Flood and Riverine Processes in the Bellingen Shire Council Development Control Plan 2017.

What approval pathway can I use to apply?

To obtain development consent, you will need to lodge either a Development Application (DA) or Complying Development Certificate (CDC). 

Apply for a DA    Apply for a CDC