Can I build a granny flat in Tasmania?
In Tasmania a granny flat is an 'ancillary dwelling' under the Tasmanian Planning Scheme. Meet the zone's Acceptable Solutions — usually a 60 m² cap and standard siting — and it can be Permitted, the fast, low-risk pathway. Here's what's allowed, and how to check your block.
Tasmanian homeowners weighing up a granny flat for family, rental income or a home office — who want to know what's allowed before paying for design.
Ancillary dwellings under the Tasmanian Planning Scheme
Tasmania's planning is run through the Tasmanian Planning Scheme (TPS) — state-wide State Planning Provisions plus each council's Local Provisions Schedule — under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993. A granny flat is an 'ancillary dwelling': a smaller, self-contained dwelling on the same lot as, and subordinate to, an existing dwelling.
Whether you need a permit depends on the assessment category. An ancillary dwelling that meets the zone's Acceptable Solutions — most importantly a floor-area cap commonly set at 60 m², plus standard setbacks and site coverage — is Permitted, meaning council must grant the permit. Miss an Acceptable Solution and it becomes Discretionary: assessed on its merits against the Performance Criteria.
- A granny flat is an 'ancillary dwelling' on the same lot as an existing dwelling
- Commonly capped at 60 m² floor area as the Acceptable Solution
- Must meet the zone's setback, height and site-coverage standards
- Meeting the Acceptable Solutions = Permitted (council must grant the permit)
- Missing one = Discretionary (merit assessment against Performance Criteria)
- Codes/overlays (heritage, bushfire, landslip, waterway) can change the category
Permitted vs Discretionary
The Tasmanian Planning Scheme sorts applications into categories. 'No Permit Required' covers genuinely exempt minor work. 'Permitted' is the favourable pathway — if your ancillary dwelling meets every Acceptable Solution, the council can't refuse it (though it can condition it). 'Discretionary' applies when an Acceptable Solution isn't met; the council weighs the proposal against the Performance Criteria and the application is advertised for public representations.
Whether an ancillary dwelling can be rented to a separate household depends on the current scheme provisions — Tasmania has been adjusting these to support housing supply, so confirm the position for your situation rather than assuming. Either way it stays on the same lot as the main dwelling unless you separately subdivide.
Check your property before you design
Whether your granny flat is Permitted or Discretionary turns on your zone, the Acceptable Solutions and any code overlays (bushfire, heritage, landslip) on your land. Our $39 Tasmanian planning report identifies your zone, the relevant standards and overlays and gives a plain-English read on what's allowed and which pathway applies.
Want a free first look? The free Property Snapshot shows your zone, overlays and hazards in seconds.
Worked example
A 55 m² ancillary dwelling behind an existing house in the General Residential Zone, meeting the setback and site-coverage Acceptable Solutions with no code overlays, is Permitted. Push it to 80 m² or add a bushfire-prone area code, and it becomes a Discretionary application.
The statutory basis
Development in Tasmania is assessed under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 and the Tasmanian Planning Scheme — the State Planning Provisions plus each council's Local Provisions Schedule. 'Ancillary dwelling' is a defined use; the floor-area cap and siting standards sit in the zone's Acceptable Solutions, with Performance Criteria for Discretionary applications. Codes (bushfire-prone areas, heritage, landslip, waterway and coastal) can apply on top. Always confirm the standards and codes for your specific lot.
Tasmanian Planning Scheme
Ancillary dwelling — Acceptable Solutions & Performance Criteria
Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993
Permit categories & assessment
State Planning Provisions + Local Provisions Schedule
Zone & code standards
Frequently asked questions
How big can a granny flat be in Tasmania?
Do I need a permit for a granny flat in Tasmania?
What is an 'ancillary dwelling'?
Can I rent out a granny flat in Tasmania?
Does a bushfire or heritage code affect my granny flat?
Related TAS resources
$39 planning report — ready when you are
A plain-English read on exactly what your property allows — zone, overlays and the rules that decide your project.