How Long Will It Take To Build My Granny Flat?

Factors To Think About Before Constructing A Granny Flat

A granny flat can be built to raise the property's value, optimise rental income, provide more space for an expanding family or elderly relatives, or even assist in paying the mortgage on the parent dwelling. Look at these three tips before you start construction on that granny flat.

Are Granny Flats Allowed On Your Property?

There is no universally accepted minimum lot size or frontage for a granny flat. However, most municipalities demand at least 450 square metres of land and 12 metres of frontage.

Your block may meet minimum lot size and frontage criteria. Still, the configuration of your land and primary dwelling may make it challenging for your proposed granny flat to meet SEPP or DCP construction and planning controls.

Do not put your granny flat on top of a stormwater easement. The bulk of properties will be unaffected.

As a result of the State Environmental Planning Policy being put into effect by the government, illegal granny flats are a thing of the past. According to this plan, building granny flats or accessory dwelling units doesn't require permission from the local government. A granny flat is a legitimate unit that can increase your property's versatility and worth.

Submission of a CDC or DA Application?

There's a decision to be made between submitting a DA to the city council and applying for a CDC from a private certifier. The regulations regarding granny flats vary in each jurisdiction.

The SEPP requires a distance of three metres (m) between the house and the backyard fence, although certain DCPs may allow your granny flat to be only ninety centimetres (m) from the backyard fence. As a result, if you're developing a granny flat on a smaller block by the SEPP, you may reduce the size of the primary residence's backyard; in this instance, you may want to submit a development application to move the two buildings closer together.

Because of this, the approval process for a CDC is far quicker than that for a DA. You should submit a CDC application for your granny flat if your property fits the criteria for CDC approval and the planning procedures under the CDC meet your needs and wants.

The Time Required To Construct A Granny Flat

It used to take around six months to approve a granny flat by the local council, but now it just takes about three. A private certifier can issue a Complying Development Certificate in as little as ten days, and plan draughts can be completed in as little as two weeks.

The NSW AHSEPP does not mandate granny flat approvals from local governments. However, standards must still be met throughout the building process. Building can begin quickly on your home property if the New South Wales government has approved your plans.

How Long Does It Take To Plan A Granny Flat?

Two to four months are often needed to complete the design of a granny flat, which includes the creation of all the building documents needed to submit to the city for approval. 

A more sophisticated granny flat design involving unique features, custom pieces, or cutting-edge technology may take longer to build than one that begins with a conventional blueprint. 

The site's location and attributes can affect the granny flat's design schedule. More time may be needed to design the granny flat to suit site-specific requirements such as steeper slopes, different soil types, or stricter zoning laws. 

An experienced design team can guide you and estimate project timelines. 

Granny Flat Approval Procedures

Assessment

Contact your team to schedule an inspection of your home if you have any doubts about whether or not it satisfies the criteria. 

Discussion

You'll discuss your plans for a granny flat once you've established that your land suits such a building. 

Completion of Documents

After the land has been evaluated and the plans have been discussed, the following paperwork must be filled out:

• Engineering blueprint for a structure
• Design for Buildings
• Insurance and guarantees for homeowners

Approval of Plans

You can have a Private Certifier give the green light to the plans if you're satisfied with everything. This Private Certifier will verify that your plans are up to code by performing the following checks:

• Inform your neighbours of the upcoming construction.
• Construction inspections should be made at key points throughout the project.
• Sewer approval fees from Sydney Water and Occupation Certificate (OC) must be paid upon final submission.

The Schedule For The Construction Of A Granny Flat

The construction schedule for a granny flat is detailed below.

An Analysis of Your Property

One cannot simply begin constructing a granny flat. Assessing the potential of your land is the first step. Is it in a state where constructing a granny flat would be easy or even possible?

Some considerations are:

If your land is sloped.

• The extent of your property.
• Your property's designated use.
• Find out your property line by conducting a Land and Title Search.
• Location of the sewage treatment plant. Sewer Diagrams are available at any Reece Plumbing store.
• Managing rainwater runoff.
• The wiring is already in place.

Because of these factors, constructing your granny flat may be prohibitively difficult, expensive, or even impossible.

In most cases, getting an expert's opinion is the best course of action. Property requirements, such as the height of trees in your or your neighbour's yard, might require much work for the average individual to observe.

A Comprehensible Plan for Your Ideal Home

If you answered "yes" to less than two of the following questions, you are free to begin planning:

• Is there enough room on your property to build a granny flat with little work?
• Is your land free of local, state, or federal regulations or those imposed by your neighbours?
• Can you either submit a Development Application or comply with your Council's requirements for Complying with Development (CDC)?
• Is proceeding with the construction still feasible, doable, and worthwhile?

You can choose from many granny flat layouts and styles, but you must be satisfied with your final result today and in the future.

It is crucial to make efficient use of space in a granny flat, but it is also surprising how much may be accommodated in a house of only 60 square metres.

For the kitchen alone, you'll have to decide on things like:

• Everything from refrigerators and freezers to ranges and ovens and even dishwashers.
• Kitchen and bathroom cabinetry and countertops should coordinate with the rest of the space.
• Faucets for use with a sink.
• He is the range splash guard.

The bathroom is another place where you'll have to make a decision.

• Toilet.
• Paper towel holder.
• The shower's gizmo and curtain.
• Waste gratings.
• A sink and vanity unit.
• Taps.
• Mirror.
• Holds towels.
• Rack for drying hands.
• Walls and a Fan.

Now is the time to bring in a designer and discuss your objectives and needs. They will walk you through the many styles, colours, and materials so you feel safe.

You'll spend more money on a designer but end up with comprehensive designs that pass muster with the local government and the granny flat of your dreams. You can even hire a draftsperson or an architect if you choose.

Approval

To begin, you must acquire the necessary permits from your water provider. They will receive your blueprints and rubberstamp them.

When you have finalised your plans, the next step is to submit them to the Council for approval.

You can expect to obtain an answer in as little as ten days if you've decided to go through Complying Development (CDC). It takes significantly longer, maybe some months, if a Development Application (DA) is submitted.

Your certifier will issue you a Construction Certificate (CC). The CC's role is to ensure that your development sticks to the approved plans; thus, having it means you can start construction lawfully.

Actual Construction

Before beginning any building, you should give fair warning to your neighbours and anybody else who might be affected by the noise.

Most of the time, this is necessary by law due to the disruptive nature of constructive work.

Avoid arguments by being considerate and communicating with others before taking action. Those working from home or attempting to persuade their children to nap during the day may find the daytime noise rather distracting. Now that that's out of the way, you may begin.

Site prep

This must be done before any construction can commence. This entails:

• The first step in every construction project is getting the site prepared. Consider renting a skip bin and setting up temporary fencing to contain the trash.
• Clearing the site and levelling the ground are necessary before construction on the granny flat begins. If you have a lot of things, such as a long clothesline, a pergola, a beautiful garden, or tall trees, this task might become significantly more challenging.
• Get the necessary connections at the site, such as for stormwater and sewage.

Build Your Foundation

Staking out the property is the first stage in developing a granny flat.

Then, either pour a concrete slab or create piers for your foundation. Termite barriers should be installed at the base of the structure. The structure of your granny's apartment will start to take form.

Plumbing Inside

Have an electrician come out and do a rough-in on the electrical system.

The granny flat needs power and water now that it's locked up. You should also install a separate electricity meter to rent your granny flat.

Insulation And Plastering

Walls, both exterior and internal, as well as the roof, can all benefit from insulation. Insulation is crucial because it limits temperature swings, which is especially useful in the winter. The walls are plastered after the interior (between-the-frame) installation is complete.

The walls, both inside and out, need painting.

You can now begin painting. The amount of effort required may vary depending on the materials you use. If the exterior of your granny flat is already finished with brick veneer, for instance, you may only need to paint the window frames. 

Painting over the plaster and possibly the skirting boards on the interior will add some extra time and effort. Carefully consider how each potential paint colour will affect the overall look of your granny flat. You could benefit from considering the interior furniture when selecting paint colours.

Final clean!

The only thing left to do is to tidy up.

Remember that your plot of land, and every granny flat, is unique when planning a timeframe for constructing the structure. Your project timeline could increase by four to six weeks if you submit a Development Application instead of just using Complying Development for approval.

Conclusion 

A granny flat can significantly increase a home's value by providing more usable space. Backyard grannys are the industry standard for designing and building modern granny flats, which can be used as various purposes such as a private residence, guesthouse, hangout, or home office. Before starting construction, consider factors such as lot size, frontage, and approval requirements.

The State Environmental Planning Policy has made it illegal to build granny flats or accessory dwelling units, making them a legitimate unit that can increase property versatility and worth. The approval process for a CDC or DA application depends on the property's configuration and planning procedures.

Constructing a granny flat takes about three months, with private certifiers issuing Complying Development Certificates in as little as ten days and plan draughts in as little as two weeks. The NSW AHSEPP does not mandate granny flat approvals from local governments, but standards must still be met throughout the building process.

The design process for a granny flat typically takes two to four months, depending on the site's location and attributes. An experienced design team can guide you and estimate project timelines.

Granny flat approval procedures include assessment, discussion, completion of documents, insurance, and approval by a Private Certifier. The construction schedule for a granny flat is detailed below.

Assessing the potential of your property is crucial before beginning construction. Factors such as sloped land, property extent, designated use, sewage treatment plant location, rainwater runoff management, and existing wiring may make constructing a granny flat difficult, expensive, or impossible.

Planning for a granny flat involves determining if there is enough room on your property, if your land is free of local, state, or federal regulations, and if the construction is feasible and worthwhile. Efficient use of space is crucial in a 60 square metre house, and a designer can help with this process.

Approval for the project requires obtaining permits from your water provider and submitting plans to the Council. Complying with Development (CDC) can result in an answer in as little as ten days, while a Development Application (DA) may take longer. A Construction Certificate (CC) is issued to ensure compliance with approved plans.

Before construction, give fair warning to neighbors and others affected by noise. Site prep includes renting a skip bin, clearing the site, and obtaining necessary connections for stormwater and sewage. Building the foundation involves staking out the property, pouring concrete slabs or creating piers, and installing termite barriers.

Plumbing inside involves having an electrician rough-in the electrical system and installing a separate electricity meter. Insulation and plastering are essential for limiting temperature swings, and walls need painting after installation. Painting may vary depending on the materials used, and considering interior furniture when selecting paint colors can help.

Finally, tidy up and consider your plot of land and project timeline when planning for constructing a granny flat.

Content Summary: 

• The value of a home can be increased by adding a granny flat since it increases the amount of usable space on the property.
• Look at these three tips before you start construction on that granny flat.
• There is no universally accepted minimum lot size or frontage for a granny flat.
• Do not put your granny flat on top of a stormwater easement.
• A granny flat is a legitimate unit that can increase your property's versatility and worth.
• Because of this, the approval process for a CDC is far quicker than that for a DA.
• You should submit a CDC application for your granny flat if your property fits the criteria for CDC approval and the planning procedures under the CDC meet your needs and wants.
• Building can begin quickly on your home property if the New South Wales government has approved your plans.
• Two to four months are often needed to complete the design of a granny flat, which includes the creation of all the building documents needed to submit to the city for approval.
• The site's location and attributes can affect the granny flat's design schedule.
• You'll discuss your plans for a granny flat once you've established that your land suits such a building.
• The construction schedule for a granny flat is detailed below.
• Assessing the potential of your land is the first step.
• Some considerations are: If your land is sloped.
• The extent of your property.
• If you answered "yes" to less than two of the following questions, you are free to begin planning: Is there enough room on your property to build a granny flat with little work?
• You can even hire a draftsperson or an architect if you choose.
• To begin, you must acquire the necessary permits from your water provider.
• When you have finalised your plans, the next step is to submit them to the Council for approval.
• The CC's role is to ensure that your development sticks to the approved plans; thus, having it means you can start construction lawfully.
• Before beginning any building, you should give fair warning to your neighbours and anybody else who might be affected by the noise.
• This must be done before any construction can commence.
• This entails: The first step in every construction project is getting the site prepared.
• Clearing the site and levelling the ground are necessary before construction on the granny flat begins.
• Get the necessary connections at the site, such as for stormwater and sewage.
• Staking out the property is the first stage in developing a granny flat.
• Then, either pour a concrete slab or create piers for your foundation.
• Termite barriers should be installed at the base of the structure.
• The structure of your granny's apartment will start to take form.
• The granny flat needs power and water now that it's locked up.
• You should also install a separate electricity meter to rent your granny flat.
• The walls are plastered after the interior (between-the-frame) installation is complete.
• The walls, both inside and out, need painting.
• If the exterior of your granny flat is already finished with brick veneer, for instance, you may only need to paint the window frames.
• Painting over the plaster and possibly the skirting boards on the interior will add some extra time and effort.
• Remember that your plot of land, and every granny flat, is unique when planning a timeframe for constructing the structure.