Tasmania Granny Flat 90sqm Rules 2026 What the Reforms Mean

Tasmania granny flat rules in 2026 still start at 60 m². March 2026 reforms propose 90 m² on many residential lots, but building permits and NCC still apply, and the scheme must be live for your zone.

Last updated June 2026. Planning law evolves. Confirm the live Tasmanian Planning Scheme and any local variations with council before you lock a design. Don’t draw a 90 m² box until the amendment is live for your zone. If it lags, keep a 60 m² fallback so the certifier has somewhere to go.

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.

Key numbers before and after

Treat the 90 m2 figure as a proposed cap, not a licence to draw today. Confirm the amendment is in force for your zone before you pay a designer to fill the extra 30 m2. You can’t occupy the extra space until the scheme actually allows it. If your lot has a landslide overlay, the old 60 m2 path still matters as a fallback.

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. The extra 30 m2 is most useful as a second bedroom or a real office, not a longer hallway. Don’t waste it on a corridor. If accessibility is the goal, spend the extra metres on turning circles and a larger bathroom.

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. 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. Don’t budget Sydney labour on a Hobart lot. If the site is a steep hillside, retaining can still eat the “cheap Tasmania” story.

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 can’t subdivide and sell the unit separately without a separate planning process.

Check bank and insurance requirements before leasing. See granny flat insurance in Australia. Secondary dwellings remain on the same title as the main house. You can rent to unrelated tenants when certified, but you can’t subdivide and sell the unit separately without a separate planning process. Don’t promise a buyer two titles. If the bank wants rental evidence, they still want a certified dwelling first.

Design tips for the new cap

If you’re 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. If you’re 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. Don’t lock the larger plan into a contract before the amendment is gazetted for your zone.

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.

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. Don’t assume the extra 30 m2 is free yield. If Hobart rents don’t support a second bedroom, keep the 60 m2 plan.

Compare Tasmania with NSW, Victoria, Queensland / Brisbane, Western Australia and South Australia. Use the approval pathway wizard to compare Tasmania with other states.

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