Low Rise Dwellings and
Residential Additions
Who should read this guide?
Anyone considering building a new dwelling or a dwelling addition.
Planning and Design Code
Requirements
The Planning and Design Code divides the
Council into a range of Zones and Subzones,
outlining specific details that should be
considered when lodging an application to
build a new dwelling or add to an existing one.
The requirements are organised within the
Planning and Design Code as either
‘low rise’ (up to 2 building levels) or
‘medium rise’ (3 to 6 buildings levels) or
‘high rise’ (7 building levels and above),
depending on the number of building levels
being proposed.
For medium and high rise residential
development refer to the ‘Medium and High
Rise Residential Development Information
Guide’.
Low rise residential
developments
Low rise residential dwellings and additions
should:
• be designed to complement and be
compatible with surrounding buildings
(particularly heritage places) in terms of
the overall height, architectural style,
setbacks, external colours and finishes,
fencing and landscaping
• incorporate windows facing primary
street frontages to encourage passive
surveillance and make a positive
contribution to the streetscape
• be located and designed so as to not
impact on adjoining properties by
unreasonably overshadowing windows or
private open space; visual bulk/impact;
or overlooking from upper level windows
and/or balconies
• provide suitably sized
areas of usable private
open space
• position private open space
to provide convenient access
from internal living areas
• be designed to incorporate
soft landscaping into the
development
• provide car parking spaces with
dimensions that are functional,
accessible and convenient
• provide suitable vehicle access from
minor roads and lane ways at the rear
of sites where possible
• provide convenient storage of waste
bins in a location screened from public
view
• be positioned to protect established
trees and landscaping and enable new
landscaping
• be designed to take advantage of
natural ventilation and sunlight with
internal and external living areas
orientated to the north where possible,
and shading provided on the western
and eastern facades.
Specific requirements about the maximum
allowable floor area of a dwelling, the
minimum size of the allotment, and the
minimum amount of landscaping and
private outdoor area may also apply to your
site.
These requirements are generally
detailed within the Technical and
Numeric Layer of SAPPA, the relevant
Zone and/or Subzone for each site and
General Development Policies.
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Low Rise Dwellings &
Residential Additions
Development Approval
Before you commence any work you will
need to obtain Development Approval.
This approval consists of two separate
consents: Planning Consent and Building
Consent.
Planning Consent requires your application
to be considered against the requirements
of Planning and Design Code outlined
above. Once this is completed and it is
determined the application meets the
necessary requirements, a building
assessment is conducted. This consists of
an assessment against the requirements of
the National Construction Code and
generally considers structural and building
safety matters.
Once Planning Consent and Building
Consent are granted, Development
Approval will be also be granted.
Development Approval is required before
work can be undertaken.
Lodging a Development
Application
If you wish to build a new dwelling or
residential addition you will need to submit
a Development Application via the PlanSA
website www.plan.sa.gov.au
• Floor Plan
The Development Application for planning
consent should be accompanied by the
following information:
• Site Plan
o Minimum scale 1:200 (1:100 preferred)
o North point
o Boundaries and dimensions of the site
and, if the application provides an area
• Elevation Plan
of common or community land, the
boundaries of such land
o Position of any existing or proposed
building on the site
o Distance between proposed building
and the front, side and rear boundaries
of the site
o Levels of the site including any cut and fill
and proposed finished floor level of the
dwelling/extension and location of any
earthworks or retaining walls (if relevant)
o Location of any regulated tree on the site or
adjoining land that might be affected by the
work, or that might affect the proposed work
o Number, location and dimension of any car
parks
o Location of private outdoor areas and any
landscaping either existing or proposed
o Amount and location of private open space
that will exist on the site, including details of
any fencing around areas of private open
space
o The location and capacity of proposed
water tanks, the connection type, the total
roof area to be connected to the tank and
the proportion of the tank to be used for
retention or detention
o New or modified driveway or access point
proposed, the width of the vehicle
crossover, the driveway width at the front
boundary, the minimum and maximum
driveway widths and the location of any
street furniture, infrastructure or tree within
the road reserve abutting the property
o location and species of any tree to be
planted and any tree to be retained on the
site.
o Minimum scale 1:200 (1:100 preferred)
o Purpose and layout of the rooms and other
areas
o Internal dimensions of any proposed
carport or garage
o roof area including any eaves and
verandahs
o Details of the external appearance of the
building, shown from all sides
o the elevation of each side of each
proposed building
o existing and proposed ground levels
o proposed internal floor levels (relative to
adjacent ground levels)
o ceiling heights
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Low Rise Dwellings &
Residential Additions
o ceiling heights
o in relation to the roof the height
(relative to the adjacent ground level) of
the eaves and the ridge and the pitch
o dimensions of proposed eave
overhangs
o dimensions of proposed external doors
and windows
o proposed measures to be applied to
any above ground level windows or
balconies designed to provide for
privacy.
• Supporting Information
o Schedule of building materials, finishes and
colours
o Details relating to stormwater disposal,
retention and detention
o Details of any energy efficiency measures
If you are applying for Building Consent, the
following information will also be required:
• Soil Report
o A report by a geotechnical engineer
that has assessed the soil where the
new dwelling/extension is being
placed. This is undertaken by taking
samples of the earth with a boring
machine.
• Structural Engineering Report
o A report by a structural engineer
should be included when structural
steel is required as part of the design.
• Framing / Roofing Plans
o Detailed timber/light steel framing
plans, which should include the type,
location and size of any bracing
components.
• Building Specification
o Details of the proposal in stages (such
as Demolition, Footings, Framing etc.)
and which Australian Standard the
components will be constructed in
accordance with.

Further Information
For further information or to discuss your specific
requirements, please contact Council’s
Development Assessment team on 8203 7185 or
planning@cityofadelaide.com.au

This information is provided as a general guide only and may not be relevant
to your specific circumstances. cityofadelaide.com.au/da