Small Second Homes

The Victorian Government has made it easier to build a small second home in residential and rural areas across Victoria – giving families more housing choice and boosting housing supply.

To make it easier to build a small second home, otherwise known as a small second dwelling, the Victoria Planning Provisions, all planning schemes and the Building Regulations have changed.

In most cases, a small second dwelling will not require a planning permit; however, a building permit is always required.

To support these changes, an updated Minister’s Guideline (MG-12): Siting and Design of Single Dwellings was published on the VBA website on 14 December 2023.

For more information, including an applicant's guide and details about the planning and building framework, visit the Department of Transport & Planning's website.

Further information regarding building a small second home and Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the Victorian Building Authority website.