Melbourne — Tier-1 Pillar

Melbourne Side Extension — Setback, ResCode, Neighbour Agreement, Party-Wall

Melbourne side extension reality. ResCode side setback, Victoria Building Act party-wall provisions, neighbour notification and objection, Heritage Overlay impact, overshadowing. A$150K-A$360K typical.

~1 min read·Updated 2026-04-23

Melbourne side extensions are constrained by ResCode's Clause 55.04-1 side setback standard — typically 1 m on the ground floor, 1.5 m on the first floor, increasing with building height. Heritage Overlay suburbs often add character-based controls through the Design and Development Overlay (DDO) that tighten further. Section 80 of the Building Act 1993 provides a statutory party-wall notice regime where works affect a shared wall.

Neighbour notification under Section 52 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 triggers a 14-day objection period. Objections can push a DA into council hearing or VCAT review.

AskBaily routes your Melbourne side extension to a VBA-registered builder who negotiates neighbour agreements, commissions structural reports, and handles Section 80 party-wall notices.

What a Melbourne side extension involves

ResCode. Side setback per Clause 55.04-1. Variation possible via planning-permit merit argument.
Section 80. Party-wall notice under the Building Act 1993 for works within 1 m of a neighbour's boundary or on shared wall.
Neighbour notification. Section 52 PEA 1987 — 14 days.
Heritage Overlay. Heritage statement + council adviser review.
Overshadowing + privacy. ResCode Clause 55 standards.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Section 80 notice? Building Act 1993 Section 80: 14 days notice to adjoining owners for any works to or within 1 m of a party wall, including excavation that could undermine a footing. Objections go to the Building Appeals Board.

What if my neighbour objects? Objections are considered on merit. Council may condition, modify, or refuse. Unfounded objections rarely block a sensible planning permit but can add 6-14 weeks.

How much does a Melbourne side extension cost? A$150,000-A$240,000 for a single-storey side extension on an inner-Melbourne terrace or semi. A$280,000-A$360,000 for a high-spec side extension with kitchen or bathroom. A$420,000+ for two-storey side additions.

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“A string of bright beads of sunlight, breaking through the valleys along the moon’s rim.”

— Francis Baily, 1836

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.

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