Skip to content
Melbourne — Tier-1 Pillar

Melbourne Granny Flat — Clause 52.42 Dependent Person's Unit, Planning Permit

Melbourne granny flat reality. Clause 52.42 Dependent Person's Unit typically requires planning permit, removable structure, size limits, services coordination. No 10-day CDC pathway like Sydney. A$155K-A$295K typical.

~1 min read·Updated 2026-04-23

Melbourne's secondary-dwelling pathway is materially slower than Sydney's. Clause 52.42 of every Victorian planning scheme allows a single Dependent Person's Unit (DPU) on a residential lot — but the DPU must be occupied by a dependent relative, must be removable, and a planning permit is typically required (no 10-day Complying Development fast-track).

The Department of Transport and Planning has consulted on a streamlined secondary-dwelling pathway, but as of mid-2026 the statewide position remains: planning permit + building permit + services coordination. Budget 12-24 weeks for consents versus 10-20 business days in NSW.

AskBaily routes your Melbourne granny flat to a VBA-registered builder who handles Clause 52.42 planning permits, removability requirements, and service coordination.

What a Melbourne granny flat involves

  • Planning Permit. Clause 52.42 DPU. 8-16 weeks.
  • Building Permit. Post-planning. 2-4 weeks.
  • Removability. DPU must be removable without structural damage to principal dwelling.
  • Occupancy. Dependent relative of the principal-dwelling occupier.
  • Services. Shared metering typical; separate metering possible.
  • NatHERS. 6-star energy rating.

Frequently asked questions

Can I rent out my Melbourne granny flat? DPU provisions typically restrict occupancy to a dependent relative. Rental to unrelated tenants may trigger a separate-dwelling assessment requiring different planning permit and impacting rateable value.

How long does a Melbourne granny flat take? 12-24 weeks for consents + 14-22 weeks build. 30-42 weeks end-to-end.

How much does a Melbourne granny flat cost? A$155,000-A$195,000 for a standard 50-60 sqm DPU. A$210,000-A$260,000 for mid-spec custom-built DPU. A$275,000-A$295,000+ for high-spec architect-designed.

<!-- STUB: expand to 1,200 words. Cover Clause 52.42 mechanics, removability design, DTP statewide reform status, ongoing DPU vs new-dwelling distinction. -->
Served in 65 neighborhoods

Where in Melbourne we match contractors

All neighborhoods →

Each neighborhood has distinct council + heritage overlay posture. Baily pre-scopes against the specific overlay your home sits under.

Talk to Baily about your Melbourne project

Start a scoping conversation. Baily verifies every matched contractor against the specific licensing, insurance, and permit requirements that apply in Melbourne before you get a quote.

Loading chat…

Origin

Who is Baily?

Baily is named after Francis Baily — an English stockbroker who retired at 51, became an astronomer, and in 1836 described something on the edge of a solar eclipse that nobody had properly articulated before: a string of bright beads of sunlight breaking through the valleys along the moon’s rim.

He wasn’t the first to see them. Edmond Halley saw them in 1715 and barely noticed. Baily’s contribution was clarity — describing exactly what was happening, in plain language, so vividly that the whole field of astronomy paid attention. The phenomenon is still called Baily’s beads.

That’s what we wanted our AI to do. Every inbound call and text has signal in it — a homeowner’s real question, a timeline, a budget, a hesitation that means “yes but.” Baily listens to every one, 24/7, and finds the beads of light.

Baily was a businessman before he was a scientist. That’s our vibe too.

Browse all Tier-1 guides →