Tasmania is considering letting homeowners build bigger granny flats. A draft amendment to the State Planning Provisions, SPP Amendment 01/2026, would increase the maximum size of a secondary residence from 60 m² to 90 m² of gross floor area, everywhere the Tasmanian Planning Scheme applies.
It is not law yet. The Tasmanian Planning Commission exhibited the draft from 10 June to 22 July 2026 and held hearings on 16 and 17 September 2026. It has since asked the State Planning Office for more information, and no decision had been published as at 4 October 2026.
For many owners a secondary residence is the alternative to subdividing: a second home on the same title, without creating a new lot.
What is changing
The current definition says a secondary residence "has a gross floor area not more than 60m2" and shares the vehicle access, driveway, parking and service connections of the main house. The draft keeps that structure and changes the size.
| Secondary residence | Current | Draft amendment 01/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum gross floor area | 60 m² | 90 m² |
| Same lot as a single dwelling | Yes | Yes |
| Shares access, driveway and parking with the house | Yes | Yes |
| Shares water, sewerage, gas, electricity and telecommunications connections and meters | Yes | Yes |
The draft also adds that a secondary residence "may share laundry facilities with the single dwelling", and its parking table shows "No requirement" for car or bicycle parking for a secondary residence. It changes the zone use tables so a secondary residence has the same status as a single dwelling in several zones, including "No Permit Required" status in the zones covered by clauses 8 to 12 of the State Planning Provisions.
The State Planning Office's explanatory report gives the reason: "A 60m2 gross floor area limit typically restricts the design options for secondary residences and no longer reflects contemporary living needs." It adds that most other Australian jurisdictions now allow secondary residences larger than 60 m².
When it applies
- Exhibited: 10 June to 22 July 2026.
- Hearings: 16 and 17 September 2026, in Hobart.
- Further information: on 21 September 2026 the Commission directed the State Planning Office to respond to four matters by Monday 5 October 2026, with reply submissions due Wednesday 14 October 2026.
- Decision: the Commission reports to the Minister, who decides whether to make the amendment. The State Planning Office expects the project to finish in the second half of 2026.
Until a decision is published, the 60 m² limit applies.
The strata title question
The first matter the Commission raised goes to the heart of the difference between a granny flat and a subdivision. It asked: "is it the policy intention that the draft amendment should operate to preclude the conversion of a primary residence and secondary residence to strata title?"
The other matters were whether private open space must be shared with the house, whether the word "subordinate" in the definition should stay, and whether "appurtenant" should be defined as "attached to, near to, in proximity or within the curtilage".
How these are answered will shape whether a 90 m² secondary residence stays tied to the main house or could become a separate title later. If you are weighing up a granny flat against a subdivision, it is worth watching the Commission's report.
What it could mean for your block
If the amendment is made as exhibited, a homeowner could build a second home of up to 90 m² on the same lot as an existing or proposed single dwelling, sharing the driveway, parking and services.
It does not create a new lot. If you want two separately titled homes, that is still a subdivision or strata application, with lot size, frontage, access and servicing to meet under the zone's own standards.
How to check your property
- Find your zone and overlays on LISTmap, the Tasmanian Government's mapping service.
- Follow the Commission's AM-SPP-01-2026 page for the report and decision.
- Read our Tasmania subdivision guide for how subdivision works, or order a Subdivision Checker report for a detailed report on a single address.
- A licensed surveyor or town planner can confirm what applies to your land.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build a 90 m² granny flat in Tasmania now?
Not under this change yet. As at 4 October 2026 the 90 m² limit is a draft amendment to the State Planning Provisions. The current definition of a secondary residence is a gross floor area of not more than 60 m².
Can a secondary residence be sold separately?
A secondary residence is defined as an additional residence on the same lot as a single dwelling, sharing its access, parking and service connections. At the September 2026 hearing the Commission asked whether the amendment should stop a primary and secondary residence being converted to strata title, and that question was still being answered in October 2026.
Who makes the final decision?
The Tasmanian Planning Commission assesses the draft amendment and reports to the Minister, who decides whether to make it.
Sources
- SPP Amendment 01/2026 – Secondary Residences – State Planning Office
- AM-SPP-01-2026 – Tasmanian Planning Commission
- Draft amendment 01-2026 (4 June 2026) – Tasmanian Planning Commission
- Explanatory Report by the State Planning Office (May 2026) – Tasmanian Planning Commission
- Commission direction, 21 September 2026 – Tasmanian Planning Commission
This article is general information only, current at 4 October 2026. Draft amendments can change before they take effect. Speak to a licensed surveyor or town planner about your property.