RemodoAustralian home planning, in plain English
Understand the rules before you design. Short, sourced guides to granny flats, setbacks and council approvals — then check your own block in Remodo.
Please note: these guides are general information only — not planning or legal advice. Rules change and vary by council. Always verify with your council or state planning portal.
Granny flats (secondary dwellings) in NSW: size, rules & approval
How granny flats (secondary dwellings) work in NSW: the 60 m² size cap, 450 m² minimum lot, setbacks, and fast-track complying development (CDC) approval.
Read guide →Building setbacks explained: front, side and rear
What building setbacks are, why councils require them, and typical front, side and rear distances for residential blocks in Australia.
Read guide →Do you need council approval? Exempt, complying (CDC) and DA in NSW
NSW has three approval pathways: exempt development (no approval), complying development (fast-track CDC), and a development application (DA). Here's how to tell which you need.
Read guide →Granny flat rules by state: NSW, VIC and QLD
A plain-English comparison of secondary dwelling / granny flat rules in NSW, Victoria and Queensland — size caps, approvals and whether you can rent them out.
Read guide →Second-storey (first-floor) additions in NSW
Adding a second storey in NSW: the CDC vs DA approval routes, and how height, floor space, overshadowing and privacy shape what you can build up.
Read guide →Floor space ratio (FSR) and site coverage explained
What floor space ratio (FSR) and site coverage mean, how FSR is calculated from gross floor area and site area, and where the numbers come from.
Read guide →Building height limits for homes in NSW
How residential building height limits work in NSW: the common 8.5 m limit in low-density zones, how storeys relate to height, and recent housing reforms.
Read guide →Decks, pergolas and patios: what's exempt in NSW
When a deck, pergola, patio or verandah can be built in NSW without council approval as exempt development — the 25 m² cap, height limits and setbacks.
Read guide →Check your own block
See indicative zoning and setbacks on your property, trace your plan, and picture the change in 3D. Start with 50 free credits.
Try Remodo freeThis content is general information only and is not planning, legal or professional advice. While we aim to keep these guides accurate and current, planning laws change frequently and vary by state, council/LGA, zone and site-specific controls (flooding, bushfire, heritage, easements and more). Figures quoted are indicative and may be out of date.
Remodo makes no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of this information and accepts no liability for any loss arising from reliance on it. Always confirm the requirements for your specific property with your local council or the relevant state planning portal, and seek advice from a qualified planner, certifier or lawyer before making decisions or starting work.