Review of residential zones completed

The government has completed a review of the residential zones that were introduced into Victorian planning schemes in 2014 – the Neighbourhood Residential Zone, the General Residential Zone, and the Residential Growth Zone.

More information about the review process

Reformed residential zones were introduced to the Victoria Planning Provisions and all planning schemes by Amendment VC110 on 27 March 2017.

Cover of the Reformed Residential Zones report

The reformed residential zones

The changes will provide a fairer approach to managing residential development, and will deliver consistent outcomes across Victoria's suburbs, towns and cities. They will deliver certainty in residential areas, regardless of where you live.

The key reforms:

  • Allow councils to define neighbourhood character and design objectives to be achieved.
  • Strengthen building height controls in the Neighbourhood Residential Zone and the General Residential Zone.
  • Introduce a new mandatory requirement for a minimum garden area to be provided in residential developments in the Neighbourhood Residential Zone and General Residential Zone.
  • Remove the limit on the number of dwellings that can be built on land in the Neighbourhood Residential Zone.

More information

View the Reformed Residential Zones booklet for more detailed information on the reforms:

View the following fact sheets for a simple explanation of the reformed residential zones.

The fact sheet below explains transitional arrangements.