Single home code

Clause 54

Victoria’s residential development provisions are included in clauses of the Victoria Planning Provisions and all planning schemes and building regulations.

Clause 54 of all planning schemes contains the residential development provisions that apply to the development of single dwellings and small second dwellings, including alterations, extensions and specified front fences, where:

• The lot is less than 300 square metres.
• The land is within one of the following zones: Residential Growth Zone, General Residential Zone, Neighbourhood Residential Zone, Housing Choice and Transport Zone, Mixed Use Zone, or Township Zone.

A planning permit is required for these developments. The clause 54 assessment forms part of the planning permit assessment.

In most cases, Clause 54 does not apply to the development of a single dwelling or small second dwelling on a lot greater than 300 square metres in a residential zone. The residential development provisions that apply to these proposals are applied and assessed as part of the building permit application process.

More information about Victoria’s building standards and regulations can be found at understanding standards and regulations.

Introduction of new standards (VC282)

The changes were introduced by Amendment VC282 and implemented a deemed to comply assessment process and new residential development standards. This follows similar changes made to Clause 55 in March 2025, which introduced the Townhouse and low-rise code for townhouses and apartment buildings up to three storeys.

Amendment VC282 also changed how the existing VicSmart process operates for single dwellings and small second dwellings on lots under 300 square metres.

The list of standards to be met to be eligible for VicSmart were updated and the VicSmart assessment was made subject to the requirements of clause 54, rather than separate information requirements and decision guidelines as had previously been the case.

Traditional arrangements apply, this means that applications lodged before 8 September 2025 will be processed according to the previous rules, and that an application to amend a permit that was lodged under section 72 of the Act must be assessed under the clause 54 provisions as they existed before 8 September 2025.

Changes to align Victoria’s building regulations with the residential development provisions in the planning system will be progressed.

Deemed to comply assessment

The deemed to comply assessment under clause 54 operates as follows:

• A development must meet all of the applicable objectives contained in clause 54.
• If a development meets a standard:
  • The corresponding objective is deemed to be met
  • The responsible authority is not required to consider the corresponding decision guidelines.
• If a development does not meet a standard, the responsible authority must consider the applicable decision guidelines in determining whether the corresponding objective is met.

If application meets certain requirements, the planning application cannot be refused on the basis of that requirement.

When a standard is met, the council is not required to consider any other policy or decision guideline in the planning scheme and specified matters under section 60 of the P&E Act.

VicSmart applications

VicSmart is a streamlined 10 day permit process where applications are not advertised, there are no third party appeal rights and decision making is constrained to key matters.

A planning permit application to develop, extend or alter a single dwelling or small second dwelling is a VicSmart application in the Residential Growth Zone, General Residential Zone, Neighbourhood Residential Zone, Housing Choice and Transport Zone, Mixed Use Zone and Township Zone if VicSmart eligibility standards in the table below are met.

If an application meets the VicSmart eligibility requirements and also requires a permit under another provision of the scheme, if it is also a class of VicSmart application under that provision, the application is VicSmart.

In some planning schemes, a schedule to the zone will include variations to some of the standard clause 54 requirements. In those cases, the requirement in the schedule to the zone needs to be met.

VicSmart eligibility standards

To be eligible for VicSmart, your proposal must meet the following standards. The table shows which standards apply to constructing or extending a dwelling or small second dwelling.

Find out more about VicSmart permits and VicSmart for councils.

Standard applications

An application is not VicSmart if one or more of the VicSmart eligibility standards are not met. The standard planning process will apply, and a council must decide whether to advertise a development proposal to neighbours and the community (notice is required for most permit applications). People may make an objection or submission to the council.

It may be the case that an application meets the VicSmart eligibility standards, but because a planning permit is required under another provision of the planning scheme where the development is not a VicSmart class of application, the application won’t be VicSmart. However, for these applications, there is no third party right of appeal (objector appeal) for the matters assessed under clause 54.

Neighbourhood character

Clause 54 sets out key neighbourhood character standards for:

• street setback
• building height
• side and rear setbacks
• walls on boundaries
• site coverage
• tree canopy
• front fences
• building setback for small second dwellings.

If the standard is met it meets the objective.

If the standard is not met, council is able to assess the alternative design solution against any relevant neighbourhood character objective, policy or statement set out in the scheme.

Guidance

Page last updated: 08/09/25