Can I build a granny flat in South Australia?
In SA a granny flat is 'ancillary accommodation' — a self-contained dwelling on the same allotment as your home. Meet the Planning and Design Code criteria and it can take the fast Deemed-to-Satisfy pathway. Here's what's allowed, and how to check your block.
South Australian 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 accommodation under the Planning and Design Code
South Australia's planning rules are now state-wide: the Planning and Design Code (in force since March 2021) replaced every council's old Development Plan. A granny flat is 'ancillary accommodation' — a smaller dwelling on the same allotment as, and ancillary to, an existing dwelling. You apply through the PlanSA portal, and how the application is assessed depends on whether it meets the Code's criteria.
The key number for most projects is floor area: in November 2024 the Code lifted the ancillary accommodation cap from 60 m² to 70 m². Stay at or below 70 m² and meet the siting standards and it can generally take the Deemed-to-Satisfy pathway — a faster, more certain assessment than a Performance Assessed application. The 2024 changes also let ancillary accommodation be fully self-contained (its own kitchen, bathroom and laundry), with up to two bedrooms, while remaining on the same allotment and sharing the primary dwelling's utility connections.
- A granny flat is 'ancillary accommodation' on the same allotment as an existing dwelling
- Up to 70 m² floor area (increased from 60 m² in November 2024)
- Can be self-contained (own kitchen, bathroom, laundry), up to two bedrooms
- Must meet the Code's siting standards (setbacks, site coverage, private open space)
- Assessed through the PlanSA portal, not the old council Development Plan
- Overlays (heritage, flooding, bushfire) can change the pathway
Deemed-to-Satisfy vs Performance Assessed
If your granny flat meets every Deemed-to-Satisfy criterion, the relevant authority must grant consent — it's the fast, low-risk pathway. If it doesn't (too large, tight setbacks, or an overlay applies), it becomes Performance Assessed: the planner weighs it against the Code's performance outcomes, with more discretion and a longer timeframe.
Whether the granny flat can be rented out to a separate household, and on what terms, depends on the current Code provisions and any conditions — confirm this for your specific situation rather than assuming. Either way, ancillary accommodation stays on the same allotment as the main dwelling; you can't divide it onto its own title without a separate land division.
Check your property before you design
Whether your granny flat takes the fast pathway turns on your zone, the Code's numeric standards and any overlays on your land. Our $39 SA 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 65 m² self-contained ancillary dwelling behind an existing house in a General Neighbourhood Zone, meeting the setback and open-space standards with no overlays, can take the Deemed-to-Satisfy pathway under the 70 m² cap. Push it to 90 m² or add a Historic Area Overlay and it becomes a Performance Assessed application.
The statutory basis
Development in South Australia is assessed under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 and the state-wide Planning and Design Code, through the PlanSA system. 'Ancillary accommodation' is a defined land use; the floor-area and siting standards sit in the Code's zone and General Development Policies, and an application is assessed on the Accepted, Deemed-to-Satisfy or Performance Assessed pathway. Always confirm the standards and overlays for your specific allotment.
Planning and Design Code (SA)
Ancillary accommodation — standards & pathways
Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016
Assessment framework
PlanSA
Lodgement & assessment portal
Frequently asked questions
How big can a granny flat be in SA?
Do I need approval for a granny flat in South Australia?
What is 'ancillary accommodation'?
Can I rent out a granny flat in SA?
Does an overlay affect my granny flat?
Related SA 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.