Thinking about adding a granny flat to your backyard?

That might soon be a whole lot easier.

A new law change is underway that could remove the need for building consent on small standalone dwellings—like granny flats—up to 70 square metres.

The Building and Construction (Small Standalone Dwellings) Bill just passed its first reading in Parliament and is expected to become law by the end of the year.

If passed, it would allow simple, code-compliant granny flats—built by authorised professionals—to skip the usual building consent process.

Homeowners would still need to notify council before and after the build and pay development contributions via a Project Information Memorandum (PIM).

So what does that mean for Coasties?

If you’ve been holding off on building a granny flat for mum, your adult kids, or even as an extra income source, this could be the green light you’ve been waiting for.

The Government estimates the change could lead to 13,000 new granny flats across the country in the next decade—many of them in high-growth areas like ours.

Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says the move supports multigenerational living and lifts living standards—especially in places like the Hibiscus Coast, where demand for affordable housing options is strong.

For young adults, retirees, or workers in our local trades and service sectors, the flexibility of these small dwellings could make a big difference.

Just don’t rush ahead just yet—the law hasn’t changed yet.

If you’re planning a build now, you’ll still need to go through the current consent process.

The exemption will only apply once the law officially comes into force.

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