Development Potential Self-Assessment
Free Self-Assessment

Can My Property Support a Granny Flat or Subdivision?

A 12-question self-assessment to score your property's development potential before you spend a dollar on designs. For homeowners and investors in NSW, VIC, QLD and SA.

98%Approval rate on applications we prepare and lodge
4,000+Successful approvals supported
300+Councils across NSW, VIC, QLD & SA
48–72hrReport turnaround by qualified planners
yourplanna.com.au
Development Potential Self-Assessment
How it works

Score your site in ten minutes

Answer the 12 questions below honestly. Score each answer as marked, add up your total, and read your result band. Most answers can be found on your state's public planning portal, your title documents, or by standing in the backyard with a tape measure.

ScoringYes = 2 points | Not sure = 1 point | No = 0 points. Maximum score: 24. “Not sure” answers are just as important as your total; they are your due diligence list.

Part 1: The land itself

1
Is your block larger than the typical minimum for a second dwelling or subdivision in your council area?As a guide, fast-track (CDC) granny flats in NSW need a minimum lot of 450 sqm, and the comparable minimum in Victoria is 300 sqm. Other pathways, states and councils vary. If you do not know your minimum, that is a "not sure".
2
Does your block have street frontage or practical access for a second dwelling or new lot?Battle-axe access, corner lots and rear lanes each carry their own requirements.
3
Is the land reasonably flat, or gently sloping?Steep sites can still work, but cut, fill, retaining and stormwater add cost and assessment complexity.
4
Is the backyard free of easements, sewer mains and drainage infrastructure?Check your title plan and utility mapping, not your memory.

Part 2: The planning controls

5
Does your zone permit a secondary dwelling, dual occupancy or subdivision?Check the land use table for your zone on your state's planning portal.
6
Is the property free of heritage listings and conservation or character overlays?Area-based controls count, not just individual listings.
7
Is the property clear of flood and bushfire mapping?Hazard mapping does not always end a project, but it always shapes one.
8
Is the title free of restrictive covenants limiting dwellings or subdivision?Single dwelling covenants can override favourable zoning, especially in Victoria.
YesNot sureNo
Planna | yourplanna.com.au | (02) 7238 08082 / 4
Development Potential Self-Assessment

Part 3: The practicalities

9
Can you provide the required parking without demolishing half the site?As a general rule, the parking provided after construction must match what existed before. Both the main dwelling and the granny flat also need their own private open space meeting minimum dimensions, for example a 5m x 5m area.
10
Are existing structures on the property all approved?Unapproved works complicate every new application on the site.
11
Is significant vegetation clear of your likely building area?Protected trees and environmental overlays can sterilise the exact corner you need.
12
Do comparable projects exist in your immediate area under the current rules?Recent approvals nearby (check the council DA tracker) suggest a supportive assessment environment. Old examples prove nothing; rules change.
Your result

What your score means

18–24
Strong potential, verify and moveThe fundamentals look right. Your risk now is not whether the site has potential, but leaving value on the table or tripping on a detail. A PPR confirms exactly what the site supports, the smartest approval pathway, and how to maximise the outcome before you spend on design.
10–17
Possible, but the "not sures" decide itThis is the most common result, and the most dangerous one to act on alone. Your project likely turns on one or two unresolved constraints. A PPR resolves precisely those questions with a qualified planner's assessment, before you commit money to plans that may need to change.
0–9
Significant constraints, get clarity before spending anythingMultiple flags does not always mean no. It means the pathway, if there is one, is narrow and needs professional navigation. A PPR gives you an honest, expert answer on whether the project is viable, saving you from spending thousands on designs for something that cannot be approved.
Planna | yourplanna.com.au | (02) 7238 08083 / 4
Development Potential Self-Assessment

Notice something?

Every band ends the same way, because a self-assessment can only tell you which questions matter. It cannot assess your specific site against the controls. Whatever you scored, the next step is the same one, and it costs from $750 rather than the price of a failed application.

Turn your score into an answer

A Preliminary Planning Report gives you a qualified town planner's in-depth assessment of your site's potential in 48 to 72 hours. Applications we prepare and lodge carry a 98% approval rate, with 4,000+ approvals supported, around 70% less than standard town planning firms.

This self-assessment is general information only and is not planning advice. Scores indicate which questions to investigate, not approval prospects. Verify the position for your specific site with a qualified town planner. Copyright Planna Group 2026.

Planna | yourplanna.com.au | (02) 7238 08084 / 4