Thinking About a Second Dwelling in Canberra? Here’s What the New Zoning Changes Mean for You

If you’re a homeowner in the ACT, you might have heard about the Territory’s recent planning reforms—and if not, this is your heads-up! The ACT Government has made some major updates to support Canberra’s growth, while also preserving the things we all love about this city: liveability, sustainability, and strong communities.

So, what’s changed?

📍 The Big News: RZ1 Zoning Just Got an Upgrade

As of 27 September 2024, the new Territory Plan allows properties in RZ1 residential zones (that’s most standard suburban blocks) over 800 square metres to now add a second dwelling of up to 120m².

That’s a pretty big deal.

This change is designed to help increase housing supply in existing suburbs—without needing to sprawl further out into green spaces. It’s about making our neighbourhoods more flexible, more inclusive, and more future-ready.

And for homeowners? It’s a great opportunity to make the most of your land.

Whether you’re thinking about:

• A home for ageing parents
• A self-contained space for adult children
• A rental for extra income
• Or just a more adaptable setup for your lifestyle

This reform could be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

🏡 Enter: Our Net Zero Habitat Range

At reimagined habitat, we’ve designed several pre-designed homes within our net zero habitat range that are abs

olutely perfect for use as a second dwelling—especially under the ACT’s new rules.

These aren’t just backyard “granny flats”. These are high-performance, all-electric, low-tox, beautifully designed homes that tread lightly on the planet and your wallet. And because they’re pre-designed, the process is quicker, simpler, and far less stressful than starting from scratch.

With prefabricated panels, high insulation, built-in airtightness and all-electric appliances (plus solar and battery as standard), your second dwelling could:

✅ Be move-in ready in just 10–12 weeks

✅ Cost less to run from day one

✅ Support healthy indoor air and low environmental impact

Whether you need a compact studio, a 1-bedroom setup, or a two-bedroom design, our existing range has a number of layouts that can be easily adapted to suit your block and your vision.

Want Something a Bit More Unique?

Of course, if you’re after something more tailored to your lifestyle, land or vision, our reimagined habitat team can work with you on a customised design—still with all the same sustainable values and high-performance features, but designed just for you.

We’ll help you maximise space, comfort and energy efficiency, while keeping the process clear and straightforward.

💬 So What’s Next?

If you’ve got over 800m² of land in Canberra and you’ve been dreaming of adding a second dwelling—now’s the time to explore your options.

🏡 Visit our Net Zero Habitat page to browse our pre-designed homes

📥 Or get in touch to chat with us about your site and how we can help bring your second dwelling to life—beautifully, sustainably, and stress-free.

Let’s make the most of this exciting new chapter for Canberra housing—together.