HIA Welcomes Tasmania’s 90sqm Granny Flat Proposal

Tasmania 90sqm granny flat. The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has lodged a submission supporting Tasmania’s Draft Planning Scheme Amendment 01-2026, which proposes lifting the maximum floor area for secondary residences from 60sqm to 90sqm. The submission was filed on 22 July 2026.

What the Draft Amendment Proposes

Tasmania’s planning scheme currently caps secondary residences (the formal term for granny flats) at 60 square metres. The draft amendment would raise that limit to 90 square metres, bringing the state closer to New South Wales and Victorian frameworks.

The HIA welcomed the increase but noted the proposal doesn’t go far enough. In the submission, the association called for additional amendments to site coverage rules to unlock the full benefit of the larger floor area allowance.

Site Coverage Concerns

HIA’s submission highlighted that Tasmania’s current site coverage limits could still restrict 90sqm builds on smaller blocks. The association wants relaxed coverage rules to ensure the new floor area cap is practical for typical suburban lots.

• Lot size matters: A 90sqm granny flat may exceed coverage limits on many residential blocks without further amendment.
• Block-by-block variation: Site coverage rules differ by zone and council, making it hard to apply a uniform standard.
• State alignment: HIA argued Tasmania should harmonise with NSW and Victorian models, which allow more generous coverage ratios for secondary dwellings.

Important Reminder: Not Yet Law

The draft amendment is not approved. The current legal maximum remains 60 square metres until the planning scheme is formally amended and gazetted.

Property owners and builders should not start 90sqm projects until the updated rules take effect. Check with your council before lodging any development application.

Parking Clarification Also Proposed

A draft amendment also clarifies that no additional car parking space is required for secondary residences. This brings Tasmania in line with other states where granny flats are typically exempted from parking mandates on the same lot.

HIA supported this clarification, noting it removes a common barrier for families building secondary residences on standard suburban blocks.

What Happens Next

A draft amendment is open for public consultation. Once submissions close, the Tasmanian Planning Commission will review feedback and make a recommendation to the Minister for Planning.

If approved, the changes will be gazetted and become binding. The timeline for final approval has not been announced.

Context: Tasmania’s Secondary Residence Framework

Tasmania uses the term “secondary residence” for what other states call granny flats or secondary dwellings. The planning scheme allows them as-of-right in most residential zones, subject to design standards and council approval.

The 60sqm cap has been criticised as too restrictive for multi-generational living or ageing-in-place arrangements, particularly when compared to NSW (60sqm base, up to 120sqm with DA consent) and Victoria (60sqm secondary dwellings on most residential lots).

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