Could this property earn an extra $280–$340/week?
Free granny flat eligibility check for any NSW address — lot size, zoning, heritage, flood — plus a rental yield estimate. Takes 15 seconds.
Free. No account needed.
What we check
Lot area
Min. 450 m² under SEPP Housing 2021
Zoning
R1, R2, R3, R4, R5/RU5 under SEPP Housing 2021 cl 49
Heritage exclusion
Heritage items and conservation areas
Flood control lots
Statutory flood overlay check
Biodiversity
Biodiversity values map exclusions
Acid sulfate soils
Class 1 & 2 soil exclusions
Dual occupancy prohibition
LEP prohibition map check
How the eligibility check works
Enter address
Any NSW residential address. We geocode it and look up your lot boundary.
Check 6 criteria
Lot area, zone, heritage items and conservation areas, flood control lots, biodiversity values, acid sulfate soils.
Instant result
Pass all six: CDC pathway is available. Fail any one: DA required. We show exactly which criterion failed.
SEPP Housing 2021 — key rules
SEPP (State Environmental Planning Policy) Housing 2021 is the state-wide policy that gives property owners the right to build a secondary dwelling as complying development — bypassing council DA — if all criteria are met. Local councils cannot override SEPP Housing 2021 for eligible properties.
Min. lot area
450 m²
Max. floor area
60 m²
Approval path
CDC (private certifier)
Zones permitted
R1, R2, R3, RU5
Heritage items
Excluded
Flood control lots
Excluded
Source: SEPP (Housing) 2021 — Cl 53. DCP setbacks and height controls from your local council also apply.
Common questions
What is the minimum lot size for a granny flat in NSW?
Under SEPP Housing 2021 (the state-wide policy that overrides local council rules), the minimum lot size for a secondary dwelling approved as complying development is 450 m². If your lot is below this threshold, a DA through your local council is required and approval is not guaranteed.
What zones allow granny flats in NSW?
SEPP Housing 2021 permits secondary dwellings as complying development in R1 General Residential, R2 Low Density Residential, R3 Medium Density Residential, and RU5 Village zones. Commercial, industrial, rural, and environmental protection zones do not qualify for the CDC pathway.
What is the difference between a CDC and a DA for a granny flat?
A Complying Development Certificate (CDC) is a fast-track approval from a private certifier — no council involvement, typically 10–20 business days. A Development Application (DA) goes through your local council, takes 40–100+ days, and can be refused. SEPP Housing 2021 only allows CDC if all eligibility checks pass. If any check fails — heritage, flood, lot size, zone — a DA is required.
Does heritage listing affect granny flat eligibility?
Yes. Properties that are individually heritage-listed under the LEP, or within a heritage conservation area, are excluded from SEPP Housing 2021 complying development. A DA with a heritage impact assessment is required. Heritage exclusions are most common in inner-city LGAs (Inner West, Woollahra, Randwick) and regional towns with colonial history.
Does flood risk affect granny flat eligibility?
Yes. Properties on a flood control lot — defined as land within a flood planning area under the LEP — are excluded from the CDC pathway. A DA with a flood risk management report is required. Flood exclusions are most significant in Hawkesbury, Campbelltown, Clarence Valley, and coastal LGAs.
How large can a granny flat be in NSW?
Under SEPP Housing 2021, a secondary dwelling is limited to 60 m² internal floor area. On lots over 900 m², an attached secondary dwelling may have different sizing provisions. DCP setback and height controls from your local council also apply regardless of SEPP eligibility.
Can a granny flat earn rental income?
Yes. Secondary dwellings approved under SEPP Housing 2021 can be independently tenanted. Current market rents for granny flats in Greater Sydney range from $280–$500/week depending on size, location, and fit-out. Regional NSW rents are typically $180–$320/week.
Other checks for your property
Eligibility checks use live data from the NSW Planning Portal, Spatial Services NSW, and NSW Heritage Register. Results are indicative only — lot area, zone, and heritage status are checked against statutory data but DCP setbacks, height limits, and site-specific constraints are not included. Not planning advice. Confirm with a registered certifier or town planner.