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More and more families are choosing to live together these days—grandparents, parents, and kids all sharing one property. And honestly, it makes a lot of sense. Maybe you want to share mortgage costs, help out with childcare, or create a comfortable space for aging parents to downsize without moving too far from the family.
Living together, apart (Ancillary Dwellings)
When thinking about how to accommodate their aging parents or growing children, a lot of people immediately think of an independent “granny flat” pod down the back yard. But that’s only one option. There are a bunch of creative setups out there that might suit your block, budget, and family dynamic.
One option is a loft or “Fonzie flat,” which is a self‑contained studio built above a garage or workshop. This tends to suit smaller blocks where you’d prefer to keep backyard space for gardening, pets, or a pool. It’s great for teens and young adults starting out on the path to housing independence. If older family members will be using it, it’s worth thinking about accessibility—stairs today might need to become lifts tomorrow.
Some families choose an in‑laws suite instead. This keeps everyone under one roof, with a lockable wing containing a bedroom, bathroom, and small living area or kitchenette. It’s usually located near the front foyer. It’s a great middle ground for families who want independence and connection without constructing a second building. It also works well for older parents who want privacy but don’t want to feel separated from the main home.
In each of these cases the space for the independent family members is known as an Ancillary Dwelling. When it comes to the size of these spaces, there are a few rules to keep in mind. Most of the time, you’re working with a maximum of 70m² of internal habitable floor area. But if you're designing the space to be more accessible you can stretch that limit to 80m².
To qualify for that extra space, the dwelling needs to meet a handful of accessibility features, like having door openings with at least 820mm of clear width, internal corridors at least 1200mm wide (when there are openings on the side walls), and a toilet that’s considered “visitable.” Ideally, that toilet is located within a bathroom. The doorway also needs a 250mm nib wall on the handle side and room to add grab rails if needed. These small design touches can make a huge difference in comfort and usability.
When designing your ancillary dwelling you should strive to use materials, colours and styles that complement the main residence, especially on properties listed on the Shire’s Local Heritage List / Survey. The ancillary dwelling should be located as close as reasonably practicable to the main residence, while balancing privacy needs. And you’ll need to provide at least one on-site car parking space for the inhabitants.
Living together, together (Flexible Home Design)
If you are at the stage where you are building a new home and want to plan for the future there are numerous design options that can make your home a place where your whole family can grow up together.
One option is a home with dual master suites. Instead of one “main” bedroom and several smaller ones, the home includes two or more large bedrooms, each with its own ensuite. This makes it easier for elderly parents to feel comfortable and respected, and give kids space to grow,
A zoned home works a little differently. Here, the layout divides the house into separate wings or zones that can be opened or closed off depending on the family’s needs. Shared living areas sit in the middle and help balance privacy and togetherness. This style works especially well for families who expect their household to evolve over time—growing kids, adult children returning home, or even grandchildren joining the mix.
Another popular option, especially on larger rural blocks, is a pavilion or “pod” style home. These consist of separate buildings connected by breezeways, covered walkways, or glazed links. One pod might hold the main living areas, another the bedrooms, and another a guest suite. It allows lots of flexibility and the chance to make the most of garden views.
Do I need approval?
Yes. Before you start building your ancillary dwelling, you generally need a number of approvals from the Shire:
Environmental Approval
If your block is mapped as a Local Natural Area, or if there’s native vegetation or a watercourse that could be impacted, it’s a good idea to organise an Environmental Asset Inspection. The Shire can arrange this for you—just get in touch. Ideally, you’d line up this inspection at the same time the Bushfire Practitioner visits to do the BAL assessment.
To minimise environmental impacts, ancillary dwellings should go in areas that are already cleared or degraded, and preferably close to the main house. That way, the asset protection zones overlap, and you don’t need to remove as much vegetation
Health Approval
If your property uses septic tanks, you need approval from Environmental Health to ensure your system can handle the extra bathroom or kitchen.
Planning (Development) Approval
You likely need this if you live in a bushfire-prone area, on a heritage property, or if your design doesn't per meet the deemed-to-comply residential design codes (setbacks, size, etc.). You can find out more about getting a Planning Approval here
Prior to applying for planning approval, Shire Officers are able to undertake a preliminary assessment of your proposal, which would allow for any potential issues to be identified early on. For this to be done, a site plan, elevations and floor plan showing the proposed development, and a $73 fee, will need to be provided to the Shire’s Planning department.
Building Permit
The final step is to seek a Building Permit. This is required for all new structures or major internal changes and is about ensuring that the new home you build is structurally sound and meets all of the requirements that will make it a safe and comfortable place to live.
More information and contact
For more information about planning approval, contact Planning Services on (08) 9290 6740.
For more information about building permits, contact the Building Services on (08) 9290 6666.
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