General guidance only, not planning, legal, financial or tax advice. Controls differ by zone, lot and overlay. Always confirm your parcel on VicPlan and your scheme with your council before you design or buy.
Three ways to lay out a dual occ
Side-by-side
Two dwellings next to each other, each with its own entry and often its own driveway. Suits wider lots and can subdivide into two clean lots without an Owners Corporation.
Front-to-back (tandem)
One dwelling behind the other down a shared driveway. Suits deeper, narrower lots, but the driveway, car parking and private open space need careful design.
Attached duplex
Two dwellings sharing a party wall. The most land-efficient option on a narrow block, with fire and acoustic separation and usually an Owners Corporation.
Dual occupancy guides for Victoria
Dual occupancy planning permits
Clause 55, the Townhouse and Low-Rise Code, deemed-to-comply and objector appeals.
Read guideGarden area & ResCode standards
The 25/30/35% garden area rule, setbacks, open space, tree canopy and parking.
Read guideSubdivision & titles
The Subdivision Act process, Statement of Compliance and Owners Corporation.
Read guideFeasibility & finance
How to test the numbers, finance two dwellings, and sell versus hold.
Read guideParty walls & separation
Attached versus detached, NCC fire and acoustic separation, neighbour notices.
Read guideVetted Victorian builders for dual occs
Listed by presence, never ranked. Request a private match for your site and configuration.
Dual occupancy in Victoria: common questions
A dual occupancy is two dwellings on a single residential lot. They can be side-by-side, front-to-back (tandem) down a shared driveway, or an attached duplex sharing a party wall. A duplex is simply the attached version of a dual occupancy.
Related: thinking of a knockdown rebuild, read your building contract rights, or browse vetted Melbourne builders and the Melbourne building guides.
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