The 4 Storey Apartment Standards apply to four-storey residential development in a residential zone.

If your application is assessed under clause 57 of the planning scheme you must submit a site description and a design response with the application. More information is available at clause 57.01 – Application requirements.

Links to:

Operation of Clause 57 – Two or more dwellings on a lot residential buildings of four storeys

Objectives

An objective describes the desired outcome in the completed development. A development must meet all the objectives of Clause 57 that apply to the application.

The objectives aim to achieve residential development that:

  • responds to neighbourhood character
  • protects amenity
  • is liveable and sustainable.

You can’t "trade off" between objectives.

Council must consider the associated standard and decision guidelines when they decide if the development meets each objective.

Standards

Each objective contains a standard. A standard contains the requirements to meet the objective.

Standards should normally be met. However, if the council is satisfied that an application for an alternative design solution meets the objective, the alternative may be considered.

Council can only vary the standards by using a schedule to a Neighbourhood Character Overlay or another overlay.

Decision guidelines

Decision guidelines set out the matters the council must consider before deciding if an application meets the objectives.

Most objectives of clause 57 have decision guidelines.

The decision guidelines help council to decide if:

  • the objective will be met if the standard is met
  • the objective will be met if an alternative design solution is used

Council doesn’t need to document its consideration of each individual decision guideline. A general statement that council has considered all of the objectives and decision guidelines in the report on the application will usually be sufficient after a merits assessment.

Page last updated: 06/03/25