Tasmania Granny Flat 90sqm Rules 2026 What the Reforms Mean
What are Tasmania’s granny flat size rules in 2026? For tasmania granny flat rules, Reforms announced in March 2026 propose raising the secondary dwelling cap from 60 m² to 90 m² on many residential lots, alongside simpler approval steps on standard blocks. Building permits and NCC compliance still apply.
Last updated June 2026. Planning law evolves. Confirm the live version of the Tasmanian Planning Scheme and any local variations with your council before you lock in a design.
Why Tasmania changed the 60sqm limit
Tasmania, like other states, is under pressure to add infill housing without sprawling greenfield estates. The previous 60 m² cap fit a one-bedroom studio but struggled to accommodate two bedrooms plus storage for families or long-term renters.
The March 2026 policy direction increases the allowable gross floor area to about 90 m² for secondary dwellings on qualifying residential land. That brings Tasmania closer to Queensland’s metro allowances while keeping units backyard-scaled.
Confirm setbacks, fees and supplier inclusions with your council or certifier before you sign. SEPP, CDC and DA pathways differ by state, lot size and overlays such as heritage or flood. Use our planning tools for ballpark figures, then verify with a private certifier or council planner when your design is settled.
Key numbers before and after
| Item | Previous typical cap | 2026 reform direction |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum floor area | About 60 m² | About 90 m² on eligible lots |
| Planning pathway | commonly full planning + building | Permitted / exempt on many standard lots |
| Building permit | Required | Still required |
| Rental use | Allowed when compliant | Allowed when compliant |
Confirm setbacks, fees and supplier inclusions with your council or certifier before you sign. SEPP, CDC and DA pathways differ by state, lot size and overlays such as heritage or flood. Use our planning tools for ballpark figures, then verify with a private certifier or council planner when your design is settled.
What 90sqm lets you build
- Two bedrooms with a separate living and dining zone
- One bedroom plus a dedicated home office and larger kitchen
- Improved storage, laundry and accessibility clearances
Compare layouts in our two bedroom granny flat layout ideas pillar post. Many designs now fit comfortably inside the proposed Tasmanian cap.
Confirm setbacks, fees and supplier inclusions with your council or certifier before you sign. SEPP, CDC and DA pathways differ by state, lot size and overlays such as heritage or flood. Use our planning tools for ballpark figures, then verify with a private certifier or council planner when your design is settled.
Approval pathway on standard lots
The reform package aims to treat compliant secondary dwellings as permitted or exempt development on typical residential zones, similar to other states’ fast-track models. That reduces planning application fees and waiting time on blocks without heritage, landslide or coastal hazards.
Overlays can still force a full planning application. Hobart hillsides, bushfire-prone edges and heritage streetscapes are common examples.
Building surveyor role
Tasmania uses private building surveyors for permit issue and inspection. They assess plans against the NCC, including current 7-star energy requirements. Energy choices matter more at 90 m² than at 60 m² because envelope area grows.
Costs in Tasmania (2026)
Tasmanian construction costs are commonly lower than Sydney or Melbourne but higher than a bare kit price suggests. Turn-key secondary dwellings commonly land between about $120,000 and $240,000 depending on size, access and finishes.
A 90 m² build will sit above a 60 m² equivalent. Use the granny flat cost calculator and read granny flat costs in Australia for national context.
Confirm setbacks, fees and supplier inclusions with your council or certifier before you sign. SEPP, CDC and DA pathways differ by state, lot size and overlays such as heritage or flood. Use our planning tools for ballpark figures, then verify with a private certifier or council planner when your design is settled.
Rental and subdivision rules
Secondary dwellings remain on the same title as the main house. You can rent to unrelated tenants when certified, but you cannot subdivide and sell the unit separately without a separate planning process.
Check bank and insurance requirements before leasing. See granny flat insurance in Australia.
Confirm setbacks, fees and supplier inclusions with your council or certifier before you sign. SEPP, CDC and DA pathways differ by state, lot size and overlays such as heritage or flood. Use our planning tools for ballpark figures, then verify with a private certifier or council planner when your design is settled.
Design tips for the new cap
If you are planning now, ask your designer to produce two footprints: a 60 m² fallback and a 90 m² preferred option. That protects you if local scheme amendments lag on your specific zone.
Prioritise northern glazing for NatHERS, compact two-bedroom plans that avoid long hallways, and prefabricated modules if site access is tight. Browse granny flat kit homes for off-site build paths.
Confirm setbacks, fees and supplier inclusions with your council or certifier before you sign. SEPP, CDC and DA pathways differ by state, lot size and overlays such as heritage or flood. Use our planning tools for ballpark figures, then verify with a private certifier or council planner when your design is settled.
How Tasmania compares to mainland caps
At about 90 m², Tasmania would sit between NSW and Victoria (60 m²) and Queensland metro allowances (about 80 m²). The extra space helps two-bedroom layouts without triggering dual-occupancy complexity, provided the unit stays a secondary dwelling on one title.
Investors comparing states should weigh build cost against achievable rent. Hobart and Launceston rents differ from Sydney, but lower land and construction inputs can improve yield on a larger compliant flat.
Confirm setbacks, fees and supplier inclusions with your council or certifier before you sign. SEPP, CDC and DA pathways differ by state, lot size and overlays such as heritage or flood. Use our planning tools for ballpark figures, then verify with a private certifier or council planner when your design is settled.
State rules hub
Confirm setbacks, fees and supplier inclusions with your council or certifier before you sign. SEPP, CDC and DA pathways differ by state, lot size and overlays such as heritage or flood. Use our planning tools for ballpark figures, then verify with a private certifier or council planner when your design is settled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Tasmania granny flat limit 90sqm now?
March 2026 reforms propose 90 m² on eligible residential lots, up from about 60 m². Confirm the amendment is in force for your zone before designing to the larger footprint.
Do I still need a building permit in Tasmania?
Yes. Faster planning rules do not remove the building permit or final inspection requirements.
Can I rent a Tasmania granny flat to non-family tenants?
Compliant secondary dwellings can usually be rented on the open market, subject to landlord and tenancy law.
Will a 90sqm granny flat cost much more than 60sqm?
Expect higher material and labour totals because floor area, roof and services scale up. Site costs (slab, connections) also rise modestly.
What if my block has a heritage overlay?
You can still need a full planning application regardless of the statewide size increase. Heritage controls sit outside the fast-track provisions.
Published by The Granny Flat Guide. Use the approval pathway wizard to compare Tasmania with other states.
How much does council approval add to your granny flat 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 granny flat cost calculator, then compare supplier quotes through get a quote 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
The Granny Flat Guide cross-checks regulation and cost summaries against official Australian references. Verify current rules with these sources before you lodge an application or sign a contract.
- Your Home (Australian Government)
- NSW Planning Portal
- Victorian Building Authority
- Queensland Planning
- WA Planning (DPLH)
- PlanSA (South Australia)
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