Granny Flats SA: Size, Approvals and Quote Checks
For granny flats in SA, start with the Planning and Design Code’s ancillary-accommodation rules. The state increased the floor-area criterion from 60 to 70 m² in November 2024. That figure is part of the assessment framework, not permission to put a 70 m² building anywhere on your block.
By The Granny Flat Guide Team. Updated 2 October 2026. About our research.
What changed in South Australia’s rules?
The government’s adopted-amendment notice records the increase to 70 m², changes to how utility connections are assessed, and a policy providing access to the primary dwelling’s private open space for all site occupants. Our earlier version incorrectly continued to describe 60 m² as the current reference figure.
Read the definition and the development policies together. A size criterion doesn’t settle bedroom count, siting, open space or whether the proposal fits the ancillary-accommodation category. If you want two independent dwellings or separate titles, explain that goal at the first planning discussion.
Use the current Planning and Design Code for the applicable wording. The source in force for your application matters more than an old PDF saved with a supplier’s brochure. Record the version and date when you obtain advice.
Check the address before commissioning a design
Enter the property in PlanSA and identify its zone, overlays and relevant policies. Then show the proposed use and site plan to the assessing authority or a planning professional. Ask which consents are needed and who is responsible for obtaining them.
| Property question | Useful evidence |
|---|---|
| Where can the building sit? | Survey, boundaries, easements and the proposed footprint |
| How does it relate to the existing home? | Access, outdoor space and service arrangements |
| Are special controls present? | Property-specific zone and overlay information |
| What work needs consent? | A written approval scope covering the building and site works |
Don’t assume that a standard model has a standard approval route. Moving it closer to a boundary, changing its roof or adding a deck can alter the assessment. Include these features on the drawings you send for advice.
Separate planning consent from building requirements
Ask whether planning consent is required for the actual proposal, and how building consent and development approval will be handled. The answer depends on the work and applicable assessment rules. Avoid a contract that describes the job simply as “council approved” without identifying the documents still to be obtained.
The structural and service information must suit the site. A kit supplier’s frame drawings may be only one part of that package. Establish who provides foundation design, energy documentation, drainage design and the information required for inspections.
Have the responsible practitioner explain what must be completed before construction and before occupation. Our approval guide provides a document checklist, while the state comparison explains why another state’s terminology shouldn’t be copied into an SA application.
Compare Adelaide and regional quotes on the same scope
We don’t have a verified dataset establishing an average finished-build price for South Australia. Ask for address-specific quotes with GST, inclusions and exclusions shown. An advertised kit amount and a completed dwelling are different purchases, even when the floor plans look alike.
Break the comparison into design and approvals, building supply, foundations, site preparation, delivery, installation, services and external finishes. For regional delivery, ask which access assumptions were used and whether accommodation or travel for trades is included.
Use our quote comparison guide and cost calculator to keep an assumptions list. An unresolved item should remain visible; it shouldn’t disappear because one supplier leaves the price blank.
Resolve utilities and intended use early
Ask the relevant network, retailer and licensed contractor what connection arrangement is available. Decide whether you need separate billing or simply a way to understand consumption. Meter hardware, supply capacity, trenches and reinstatement are separate parts of the work.
For a proposed rental, check the approved use and the tenancy requirements applying to the arrangement. For family accommodation, write down access, expenses and maintenance responsibilities. The intended household should also review the design: storage, laundry and the path from the street affect daily life more than a brochure photograph.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Australia’s reference figure still 60 m²?
The adopted November 2024 amendment increased the floor-area criterion to 70 m². Check the current Code and all other applicable policies for your proposal.
Does a small kit avoid approval?
No supplier label establishes an exemption. Ask the assessing authority which approvals the proposed building and use require.
Where can I compare suppliers?
Our builder directory and prefab directory provide starting points. Verify service area, licence and contract scope directly.
How much does council approval add to your build budget?
Council and certifier fees sit outside the builder quote. In NSW, a CDC pathway through a private certifier often lands between roughly $3,000 and $8,000 once survey, BASIX and Sydney Water checks are included, while a full DA can cost more because of longer consultant time and holding costs. Victoria and Queensland use different fee schedules, so treat any single number as a starting point. Model your own project in our cost calculator, then browse the supplier hub or send us an enquiry when your footprint is settled.
What design choices affect approval speed?
Setbacks, height, floor area and tree protection overlays decide whether you stay on a fast CDC track or drop to a slower DA. Staying under common 60 sqm internal caps, keeping adequate side and rear setbacks and connecting services without major easement conflicts usually keeps the pathway simpler. If your block is sloped, flood-affected or heritage-listed, expect extra reports before council or your certifier can sign off. Use the setback checker and approval wizard against your address before you pay for custom drawings.
Primary sources
These cards are an editorial summary of official pages. The Granny Flat Guide is not a certifier, council or licensed builder. Check the live official URL before you lodge or sign.
- Your Home (Australian Government)Your Home: Australia's guide to environmentally sustainable homes
- Australian Building Codes BoardNational Construction Code
- NSW Planning PortalState Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021
- Victorian Building AuthorityBuilding Act 1993 / small second dwelling settings
- Queensland PlanningPlanning Act 2016
- WA Planning (DPLH)Planning and Development Act 2005
- PlanSA (South Australia)Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016
- QBCC (Queensland)Queensland Building and Construction Commission licensing
See our editorial standards for how we research and update guides.
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