Granny flats in NSW: the 60 m² rule, explained simply
Why 60 m² is the magic number for secondary dwellings in NSW, what the Housing SEPP actually allows in your backyard, and how the fast-track approval works.
If you've started researching a granny flat in Sydney, you've met the number 60. It's not marketing — it comes straight from NSW planning law, and understanding it will save you months.
Where the 60 m² limit comes from
Under the NSW Housing SEPP, a secondary dwelling — the official term for a granny flat — can have a maximum internal living area of 60 m². Stay within it (and a few siting rules) and you can build one on most residential blocks in NSW as complying development, without a full council DA.
What complying development means for your timeline
Complying development is assessed by a private certifier against a fixed checklist. If your block qualifies, a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) can be issued in as little as 10 business days. A council DA for the same building can take 40–90 days — and sometimes longer.
The basic siting rules
- Block at least 450 m² in a residential zone
- One granny flat per block, alongside the principal home
- Minimum 3 m rear and 0.9 m side setbacks (varies by lot)
- Maximum height typically 3.8–4.3 m for a single storey
- No subdivision — the flat shares the title with the main house
What we check before you commit
At the obligation-free site assessment we confirm zoning, setbacks, easements, trees and services — then tell you plainly whether your block takes the CDC fast lane or needs a DA. Either way, we prepare and lodge the paperwork for you.
Wondering what fits your block?
Obligation-free site assessment — the right home, the approval pathway and a fixed price, within 48 hours.
