A review of the residential zones that were introduced into Victorian planning schemes in 2014 has been completed and reformed residential zones are now applicable effective 27 March 2017.
The changes are proposed to provide consistent outcomes across Victoria, improving housing diversity, whilst protecting open and garden space within more sensitive residential areas.
What are the changes?
Changes are being made to the three main residential zones that apply across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. These changes include:
- Increasing the mandatory maximum height for development in the Neighbourhood Residential Zone from 8 metres to 9 metres (2 storey maximum).
- Increasing the discretionary height limit for development in the General Residential Zone from 9 metres to a mandatory maximum height of 11 metres (3 storey maximum).
- Introducing a mandatory garden area requirement in the Neighbourhood Residential Zone and General Residential Zone to enhance the garden and open character of residential areas.
- Removing the restriction on the number of dwellings that can be built on a property in the Neighbourhood Residential Zone
Transitional arrangements
Transitional arrangements are in place to ensure development proposals currently being considered are not unfairly disadvantaged by the new building height and garden area requirements in the Neighbourhood Residential and General Residential Zones
Further information
The Minister for Planning has released a series of Fact Sheets and information brochures (attached below) which provide an overview of the key changes to the new residential zones.
General Information on the Reformed Residential Zones
Neighbourhood Residential Zone
Maximum building heightsand number of storeys
New minimum garden area requirement
Related Posts
Building Law Changes
Changes to the Victorian Building Laws designed to increase compliance and transparency, came into…