Building regulations · Victoria
Australian building codes and Victoria-specific requirements for secondary dwellings, in plain English. We navigate the complexity so you don't have to.
Victoria-specific
Expand your living space without the red tape. In Victoria, compliant secondary dwellings up to 60 square metres no longer require a council planning permit. Your space, your freedom.
Code compliance
Meets the latest National Construction Code requirements for livable housing.
Minimum 7-star NatHERS rating achieved through passive design principles.
Materials selected to meet Bushfire Attack Level ratings up to BAL-40.
Engineered for N3 wind classification, upgradeable to C2 cyclonic.
Built to Victorian second-dwelling regulations and compliance standards.
Official guidance
The rules that shape every compliant build in Victoria. Tap each to expand.
The National Construction Code (NCC) sets minimum standards for health, safety, amenity and sustainability for all Australian buildings. Secondary dwellings are classified as Class 1a buildings and must comply. In Victoria, the Victorian Planning Provisions (VPPs) and the Building Regulations 2018 also apply, along with ResCode standards covering setbacks, site coverage and private open space.
Generally limited to a maximum gross floor area of 60 square metres in Victoria.
Typically required — but exemptions mean a permit may not be needed under 60m².
Always mandatory for any new secondary dwelling in Victoria, regardless of size.
The NCC requires all new buildings in designated bushfire-prone areas to comply with AS 3959 (Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas), which involves a Bushfire Attack Level assessment. Victorian Planning Schemes identify bushfire-prone areas, and any new secondary dwelling proposed in these areas needs a mandatory BAL assessment to determine the right construction standards.
The BAL rating relates to location and bushfire exposure, not the size of the dwelling.
Applications must include a Bushfire Management Statement and a detailed BAL assessment.
Must include a certified BAL assessment and drawings showing compliance with the rating.
NCC Volume Two specifies minimum requirements for internal amenity — room sizes, ceiling heights, natural light and ventilation for habitable rooms. Victoria's Building Regulations 2018 adopt these standards, and ResCode adds external amenity requirements such as setbacks, private open space and overshadowing controls.
Minimum room sizes and ceiling heights apply to all habitable rooms, whatever the overall size.
ResCode setback and overshadowing rules are assessed as part of any planning application.
Must demonstrate compliance with NCC amenity standards for natural light and ventilation.
NCC Volume Two mandates minimum energy-efficiency requirements for all new dwellings, covering insulation, glazing, sealing and hot-water systems. Victoria's Building Regulations 2018 adopt and enforce these standards. New secondary dwellings must achieve a minimum energy rating, with the transition to 7-star well underway — every one of our pods is built to 7-star NatHERS.
Energy-efficiency standards apply to all new dwellings, irrespective of size.
Some local schemes require higher performance via environmental overlays.
Requires a NatHERS energy-rating assessment demonstrating compliance.
This is general guidance only and not a substitute for advice from your building surveyor or council. Requirements can vary by site and are subject to change.
We handle the paperwork
We manage building permits and regulatory compliance for Victoria, so you can focus on your new space.