In the ACT, a granny flat is assessed by the Territory Planning Authority as a Secondary Residence. Here's exactly what you need to prepare and lodge, based on the current minimum documentation guideline (NI2026–13, effective 12 January 2026).
Download the PDF ChecklistThese apply in virtually every case, based on the minimum documentation guideline.
Needed if you're not the sole registered owner, or the land is owned by multiple people/a corporation. Get the government form →
Addresses relevant Territory Plan policies. For a granny flat (Secondary Residence) in a residential zone, only these three templates apply — fill in all three and combine them into one document before uploading:
Other design-response templates on the government page (Apartment Design Guide, Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design, Missing Middle Housing, etc.) do not apply to secondary residences.
See example completed templates →Contours, boundaries, easements, existing structures/trees, proposed building location & dimensions, driveway crossing.
For an owner builder: engage a surveyor first for the detail survey, then hand that survey file to your drafter/designer, who produces the site plan (along with the floor plan, elevations, sections, etc.) as part of the same design package.
Nine Land & Engineering Surveyors →Each floor, external & internal dimensions, finished floor levels, identification of every room's use.
For an owner builder: once the surveyor's detail survey is in hand, your drafting team plots the proposed granny flat directly onto that surveyed base — positioning the building against the real boundaries, easements and levels rather than an assumed layout, then dimensioning every room and wall from there.
See an example floor plan →Same as the floor plan but with internal walls removed for privacy.
What does this mean? →Site coverage and gross floor area (GFA) calculations, with inclusions/exclusions hatched.
What does this mean? →Finished floor/ceiling levels, natural & finished ground levels, building envelope — all related to Australian Height Datum.
What does this mean? →All sides, dimensioned heights, finished ground level, external materials referenced to a colour sample schedule.
What does this mean? →Planting details, trees retained/removed, permeability, stormwater management.
What does this mean? →Mandatory for sites under 0.3ha (virtually every granny flat block).
What does this mean? →These are only required where they apply, or if the Territory Planning Authority requests them (including at a pre-application meeting). Click each to see when it applies.
A detached granny flat is assessed as a Secondary Residence. Confirm with your certifier or drafter whether any DA exemption could apply to your project.
The quickest way to find out which conditional documents above will actually be requested for your specific block.
Plus any conditional documents identified as relevant to your site.
Incorrectly formatted plans are a common cause of delay.
This is the only channel for DA lodgement, amendments, and satisfying conditions of approval.
This checklist is not exhaustive — the Territory Planning Authority can request additional plans or reports during assessment.
Once the DA is approved, this must be in place before any construction work begins.
The only online channel for DA lodgement, amendments, and satisfying conditions of approval.
edevelopment.act.gov.au →ACT Planning's official step-by-step guide to lodging a development application.
planning.act.gov.au →Letter of authorisation and other approved DA forms, published by ACT Planning.
planning.act.gov.au/forms →The three templates that apply to a secondary residence — see Section 1 above for links to each: Cover Report, Residential Zones Policy, District Policy.
Full template library →City Services' official template, required if works fall within a protected tree's protection zone.
cityservices.act.gov.au →ACT Government's full explanatory guide to the DA process.
planning.act.gov.au →Canberra Drafting manages our DA & BA paperwork end to end — call us and we'll walk you through exactly what your block needs.
Call: 0403 370 551This checklist is a plain-language summary prepared by the Granny Flat Team for owner builders, based on the Planning (Minimum Development Application Documentation) Guideline 2026 (No 1), Notifiable Instrument NI2026–13, made under the Planning Act 2023 s166. It is general guidance only and does not replace the official guideline, which the Territory Planning Authority may supplement with additional requirements at any time. Always confirm current requirements with your certifier, drafter, or the DA Gateway Team before lodging.