Understanding what development you can do on your property

The zoning rules that apply to properties are found within the Planning and Design Code.

The Planning and Design Code is the rulebook used in South Australia to assess all Planning applications. Introduced in 2021, it replaced individual Council Development Plans and provides zoning and design rules for guiding development. The Code includes:

• Zones that apply to properties, showing the assessment pathway for specific types of development and indicating if public notification is required.
• Overlays that offer additional guidance on particular issues that affect certain areas, like heritage, regulated trees, and stormwater management.
• General Policies that cover design criteria for things like private open space, driveway designs, parking rates, and considerations for overlooking and overshadowing.

The Planning and Design Code’s policies are visually mapped on the SA Property and Planning Atlas (SAPPA). You can search for your property there to see which Code rules apply to your address and to any specific type of development you’re considering.

Download a step-by-step guide on how to use SAPPA, or watch an instructional video or explore the platform yourself.

Whether you can subdivide your property depends on several factors. To determine if subdivision is possible, you’ll need to know:

• The current size of your allotment
• The width of the frontage to the street (You can find these details in your Certificate of Title)
• The minimum allotment size and frontage width required in your zone (this information is available in the Planning and Design Code)

Other factors to consider include:

• Any easements or restrictions on the title, such as Encumbrances or Land Management Agreements, listed on your Certificate of Title.
• The slope of your land, as this may impact development potential. You may need a land survey to understand this, but some slope information is available on South Australian Property and planning atlas (SAPPA). In the Hills Neighbourhood Zone, slope also affects the minimum allotment size and frontage width for subdivisions and so is important to know.
• Regulated or Significant Trees on your property, which must be maintained along with a protected area around their root systems.
• Street trees, services, or street furniture (like NBN or Telstra pits, power poles, or parking signs) on the road verge in front of your property. New driveways must be at least 0.5 metres from services and 2 meters from street trees.

Do I need approval to demolish a building or structure on my property?

The Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act, 2016 does not require a development approval for the demolition of most structures. However, you will need approval for the demolition of the following:

• any part of a building or structure that is identified as a State Heritage Place – in these circumstances, you are strongly encouraged to speak with the SA Heritage Branch for advice before planning your project.
• any part of a building or structure that is identified as a local heritage place – in these instances you are strongly encouraged to contact Council to understand if the structure forms part of the heritage listing.
• the partial demolition of a building or structure (the purpose of obtaining an approval is to ensure that the remaining structure remains structurally sound)

If you are seeking to demolish a structure on your land, there are some important things to understand and consider. Please read our Fact Sheet to understand these.

The rules about granny flats and tiny homes changed in 2024 to provide greater flexibility to support these as forms of housing.

These forms of accommodation can now be fully self-contained (i.e. have their own kitchens bathrooms and laundry) and can also be used to accommodate people who do not have a direct relationship with those who live in the main house on the land (i.e. they can be rented out).

These changes are aimed at assisting in addressing the housing crisis and open up more accommodation options for people.

What are the rules now?

The planning system identifies these forms of buildings as “ancillary accommodation” (not dwellings) and to meet this definition, the buildings need to meet all of the following criteria:

• they need to be on the same allotment as an existing house; and
• can be (but not need be) self-contained; and
• have no more than 2 bedrooms or rooms / areas capable of being used as a bedroom.

Note that if your proposal cannot achieve all of these criteria, it will be defined as a new dwelling and be assessed with the criteria that applies to a new dwelling.

What about caravans?

The rules for ancillary accommodation also apply to caravans where they are not exempt from development approval. In this regard, caravans on a property do not require approval, provided they:

• are parked on the property (i.e. not permanently fixed or used as a place of residence in their own right); and
• are located on a property with a dwelling on it and the caravan belongs to a person who lives in that dwelling (i.e. not parked on vacant land parcel, even if it is associated with a neighbouring dwelling).

What do I need to think about if I propose a granny flat / tiny home?

A granny flat or tiny home is considered to be an ancillary building. Ancillary buildings, by their nature, must be secondary on the land to the main dwelling.

For this reason, they cannot be sold separately to the main house, as this would require a land division. This would convert the ancillary accommodation to a dwelling in its own right and bring with it additional criteria which may be difficult to achieve. For this reason, the placement of an ancillary accommodation on the land cannot be assumed to lead to support for a future land division.

There are a number of design considerations if you are seeking to put ancillary accommodation on your land. These are:

• the structure should typically be no bigger than 70m² in floor area.
• the structure should not have a wall height greater than 3m from the natural ground level, or a roof height (or gable end) no taller than 5m from natural ground level
• the placement of the structure needs to be either to the side or rear of the existing dwelling (not in front of the front wall of the dwelling on the land)
• there needs to be sufficient rear yard space left over for the main occupants of the dwelling (at least 60m² for sites greater than 301m²)
• has unrestricted access to the rear yard of the main dwelling on the land.

Council also encourages you to consider the following design issues, especially if your intent is to rent out the ancillary accommodation separate to the main house:

• providing for a car parking space on the land for the occupants of the ancillary accommodation that is separate to those of the main house on the land
• secure and private access between the ancillary accommodation and the main dwelling (pathways and fencing treatments)
• the outlook and amenity of the occupants and the relationship of the building to the living areas and bedrooms of the main house (maintaining privacy and avoiding conflicts through noise etc)
• the finished floor level of the granny flat structure and its ability to overlook into neighbouring properties. This can particularly be the case where the structure is situated on pads, are elevated or on ground where there is a fall to the neighbouring property.

Existing houses can usually be expanded to increase comfort, functionality, or space for a household’s needs. However, several planning rules affect whether an addition can be approved. Consider the following factors when you are scoping up your proposal:

• Setbacks from boundaries
  Setbacks vary by zone, but most additions will be acceptable if they meet these guidelines:
  • Side boundary: 900mm for a single-storey building (up to 3m wall height) and 2m for a two-storey building (up to 6m wall height). If on the southern boundary, two-storey buildings will need a 3.9m setback to reduce shadowing on properties to the south.
  • Rear boundary: 3m for a single-storey building and 5m for a two-storey building.

Additions in front of the existing building may not be allowed. If the proposed addition is further forward than the front setback of neighbouring houses it is unlikely to be supported by Council. Likewise, garages or carports placed in front of the house wall are not typically approved by Council.

• Private open space (backyard, courtyard or balcony spaces)
  After the addition, your property should still have private open space that:
  • measures at least 24m² for allotments under 301m², or at least 60m² for allotments over 301m² and which is;
  • is at least 3m wide and located entirely behind the front wall of the building.
• Off-street parking
  The property must maintain at least two off-street parking spaces if the house has two or more bedrooms, with one space covered.
• Site coverage
  The building footprint (including any sheds and structures) should cover less than 60% of the total property area.

You can add a carport as an extension to your house or as a separate freestanding structure, depending on your property’s characteristics. Generally, if you follow these guidelines, you should be able to place a carport or garage on your land:

• Setbacks from boundaries. Setbacks can vary by zone, but these guidelines are usually acceptable:
  • On a side boundary: A carport or garage can be placed here if it’s no longer than 11.5m and no taller than 3m (wall height), and:
    • It will be located at least 3m from any other structure on the same boundary (on either your property or the neighbour's).
    • when combined with other boundary structures, it does not cover more than 45% of the total boundary length.

If not on a side boundary, then the structure should be:

• For open carports (up to 3m wall height): Setback 600mm from a side or rear boundary.
• For garages (up to 3m wall height): Setback 900mm from a side or rear boundary.

Placing garages or carports forward of your home’s front wall is not encouraged by the Code policy. If it’s closer to the street than the front setback of neighbouring houses, it’s unlikely to be approved by Council.

• Private open space
  After adding a carport or garage, your property should still have enough back yard space of at least 24m² for properties under 301m² in area or at least 60m² for properties over 301m² in area. Note that to be included in this area, the spaces need to be at least 3m wide and behind the front wall of your house (front yards are not counted).
• Off-street parking
  The property should maintain at least two off-street parking spaces for a house with two or more bedrooms, with one of these spaces in a carport or garage.
• Site coverage
  The total footprint of all buildings (house plus any verandahs or sheds on the land) should cover less than 60% of the entire property area.

Following these criteria can help you design an addition that achieves the performance outcomes within the Planning and Design Code.

Converting a shed / carport (outbuilding) or an existing garage or carport under the main roof of a house into either a bedroom or living room space may be possible but will require a development approval from Council. You need to think about the following matters in scoping up any proposal:

• For an outbuilding – ensuring you still fall within the definition of ancillary accommodation
• For a garage under the main roof – making sure you are able to still provide sufficient car parking on your site. The Planning and Design Code requires most dwellings to have 2 car parking spaces with at least 1 of these located under cover. If you can no longer achieve this, it is unlikely council will support your proposal. Carports forward of the front wall of the dwelling are typically not supported by Council as a solution.

Please note however that there are also implications for the conversion of any shed, garage or carport to a bedroom or other habitable room from a Building Code perspective. This is changing the building classification which triggers different requirements in relation to:

1. Structural Integrity: The building must meet the structural standards for residential use, including load-bearing capacity and stability.
2. Fire Safety: Compliance with fire safety regulations, such as fire-resistant materials and proper escape routes, is essential.
3. Insulation and Energy Efficiency: The building must meet energy efficiency standards, including insulation, ventilation, and possibly solar considerations.
4. Plumbing and Electrical Systems: Upgrading plumbing and electrical systems to residential standards is necessary.
5. Health and Safety: Ensuring the building meets health and safety standards, including proper sanitation, lighting, and ventilation.
6. Accessibility: Compliance with accessibility standards for residential buildings may be required.

These requirements ensure the building is safe and suitable for residential occupancy.

There can also be complications from the need to provide documentation of the existing structure for the Development Application, which can be difficult for older buildings (Council often does not have these details or is unable to provide them to you without the Copyright owner’s consent).

Council strongly advises you obtain advice from a qualified builder about the cost implications of upgrading this structure early in scoping your project.

What do the planning rules say?

The ability to build on the boundary will depend on the zoning to which your property is located. Most Zones (other than Character Areas) do allow for buildings to be built on the boundary, and this has been the case for several decades.

The extent and length to which you or your neighbour can build on the boundary will depend on the context. As a guide, most residential type zones within the Council area provide the following criteria, but which can be varied depending on context and zone:

• the proposed structure abuts an existing boundary wall on the neighbouring property and is of the same or lesser height or length; or
• a maximum wall height from the natural or finished ground level (whichever is lower) of:
  • up to 3 metres in the General Neighbourhood Zone; or
  • 3.2m in the Hills Neighbourhood Zone
• a maximum length up to of 11.5 metres in the General Neighbourhood Zone or 8 metres in the Hills Neighbourhood Zone
• positioned 3m or more from any other structure on the boundary.
• where more than 1 structure is already on the boundary, then it makes up no more than no 45% of the length of the boundary.

Note that there may be minor variances to the above criteria considered by Council's planning team as part of the assessment of the application. The variances will only be considered if they have inconsequential impacts on neighbours or the streetscape.

Must I allow access?

If your neighbour is seeking to build on the boundary, they will need to follow the correct notification process under the Fences Act, as the new structure will in effect act as a fence.

In most instances, there may be a need for the builders to gain access to your land to help construct the structure on the boundary. It is in your interest to support access, as in the majority of cases, this will ensure you have a better finish to the structure on the boundary, which you will be looking at every day.

Notwithstanding this, you may wish to understand from the builder or your neighbour:

• how long you will be without any fencing / or with a temporary fence to secure your property and any pets you have
• what works will be needed for their access and what risks of damage to your property (including plants) may occur as a result
• what measures and making good of any damage they propose to rectify any damage (ensure this is obtained in writing and you have evidence of the condition of your property before works are undertaken – photos will assist with this).

Note that Council has no role or jurisdiction in relation to access or similar matters where there is a dispute between neighbours. Nor does Council control the correct position of the structure on the boundary. These are civil matters between the two property owners. See (Where is my boundary) for further information. 

Street trees are valued by our community and will increasingly play an important role in contributing to canopy across our neighbourhoods that will mitigate the impacts of urban heat island effects due to increased extreme weather days. They are also important to improving the amenity of our streets and are valued assets to Council.

For this reason, Council seeks avoidance of their removal for any new driveways from development (be it a single dwelling or a land division). It seeks that driveways are located at least 2 metres from the trunks of street trees, noting that this may need to be larger where the street tree is a Regulated or Significant Tree.

Notwithstanding this, Council considers requests for the removal of street trees as part of the assessment of the development application.

If you are seeking the removal of a street tree as part of your development, then you are encouraged to review the considerations and process outlined within this Fact Sheet.

What needs approval?

Any new swimming pool or spa pool capable of being filled with water to a height of 300mm or more requires development approval from Council.

If the swimming pool or spa pool is an above-ground, inflatable pool or portable spa pool that has a filtration system, you will require development approval.

In most cases, swimming pools and spas only need a Building Consent if they achieve certain criteria within the Planning and Design Code. Where the criteria cannot be met, a planning assessment is needed, based on the relevant zone policies. In most cases these support swimming pools and spas, however pay attention to:

• the location relative to boundaries and visibility from the street (where above ground)
• the extent of cutting or filling of land where located in sloping sites
• the potential noise impacts from a filtration system on surrounding houses.

Safety Barrier Requirements

There are strict Building Rules criteria that pool fencing needs to achieve to be compliant.

The sides of above-ground pools can act as a safety barrier if:

• they are non-climbable and are at least 1.2 metres high; and
• a barrier is placed around the ladder (even if it is removable); and,
• a barrier is placed around anything else that can be climbed on such as pool pump, fittings and pipework.

Don’t fill the pool until we inspect it

Council is required by law to inspect all pool developments, and you are required to advise Council of completion of your pool installation so that the inspection occurs before any water is placed within the pool. Filling a pool prior to inspection will attract a $750 expiation.

It is the responsibility of the owner of the pool or spa to ensure a compliant pool safety barrier is in place at all times. Failure to comply with safety barrier requirements increases the risk of drownings and can lead to significant fines.

Pool Maintenance

It is the responsibility of the owner of the pool or spa to ensure it is properly maintained at all times to avoid putting your family and friends at risk.

If a pool is not properly maintained, it may become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and other organisms that may cause serious illness.

The correct use of appropriate chemicals and good management of disinfection, filtration and recirculation will keep the pool water clean, safe and in a hygienic condition.

Discharging of pool water

Swimming pool water contains chemicals and can also have other foreign substances that can contaminate the stormwater system. This will have a negative effect on our waterways, and the plants and animals that rely on this environment.

Under the Environment Protection Act 1993, and the Environment Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2015, it is an offence to discharge pool water into the street or stormwater system.

The EPA states that swimming pool water (including back wash water), is to be disposed into the sewer or (where applicable) Community Wastewater Management Scheme (CWMS) or septic tank.

Some useful resources

Pool and spa safety

Disposal of Swimming Pool Backwash Water

Swimming pools and recreational waters

You are encouraged to get advice of the compliance of your swimming pool through an accredited professional to do the inspection of pool safety barriers and certify compliance as they have the appropriate qualifications, experience and professional indemnity insurance to perform this function.

Pools built before 1 July 1993

If you are selling your property with a swimming pool or spa pool, you are responsible for making sure that current safety requirements for swimming pool safety are met. This may mean you have to upgrade fencing or barriers.

Properties sold after 1 October 2008 must have child-safety barriers that comply with Ministerial Building Standard MBS 004 - Swimming pool safety – designated safety features for pools built before 1 July 1993 before settlement. This means that barriers must be installed to separate the pool area from the house wherever possible.

Pools built on or after 1 July 1993

Swimming pools or spa pools built on or after 1 July 1993 must comply with the rules that were current when the application for construction was lodged. This includes the provisions of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (or the former Development Act 1993) and the Building Code of Australia to restrict access to the pool from the house, garage, street and any adjoining properties.

You are encouraged to get advice of the compliance of your swimming pool through an accredited professional to do the inspection of pool safety barriers and certify compliance as they have the appropriate qualifications, experience and professional indemnity insurance to perform this function.

Shade sails will need approval if they are not able to achieve the following criteria:

• it is made from a permeable material; and
• the area of the sail is 20m² or less; and
• no part of the sail is more than 3 metres in height above ground or floor level (depending on where it is situated); and
• it is not positioned forward for the front wall of a building on the land along the primary street frontage.

Any shade sail on land that has a State or Local Heritage Place will need approval from Council.

Note that shade sails capture winds, and so can have significant loadings on the structures to which they are connected. You are strongly advised to obtain structural engineering advice on connecting your shade sail before it installed, to avoid damaging the structures to which it is connected.

Making use of rainwater by capturing it from your roof and storing it in a rainwater tank is encouraged by council. It helps reduce the load on our stormwater system, helps reduce our usage of potable water and saves us money in water bills.

In most cases, rainwater tanks do not need a development approval, provided they achieve the following criteria:

• it must be connected to the roof of the house on the property (not a standalone system); and
• where the property is located in a Bushfire Risk area it is a total floor area of 15m² or less, and a volume of 60KL; or
• in all other locations it is a total floor area of 10m² or less, and a volume of 40KL; and
• it is no higher than 4 metres above the natural surface of the ground; and
• located wholly underground.

Note that Bushfire Risk areas are identified within the Planning and Design Code as being in the Hazards (Bushfire – General Risk), Hazards (Bushfire – Medium Risk), Hazards (Bushfire – High Risk) or Hazards (Bushfire – Urban Interface) Overlays. There are mapped on SAPPA.

If the tank you propose does not meet all of the above criteria for your property’s location, then you will need to submit a Development Application.

It may be possible to run a business from home without needing a Development Approval, however the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act, 2016 has specific criteria that need to be achieved. To fall within the definition of a “home activity” and not require a Development Approval, you will need to be able to meet all of the following requirements:

• as the business operator you must also be the resident on the site; and
• not require the assistance of more than 1 person who is not resident on the site; and
• the activity does not detrimentally affect the amenity of the locality (such as by causing nuisance to neighbours through loud or continuous noise, emission of odours, vibration, nuisance traffic from regular visitors and deliveries, or the general intensity of the activity being prominent for neighbours); and
• the business does not use more than 30m² of the floor area of a building on the site (either internal to a dwelling or outbuilding); and
• the business activity generates a load on utilities greater than what is ordinarily required for a dwelling; and
• the activity does not display any goods in a window or around the dwelling’s curtilage (front, side or rear yards); and
• the activity does not require the use or parking of a vehicle on the land in excess of 3 tonne tare weight.

Some of the businesses that Council finds typically fail in meeting the Home Activity definition are businesses involving panel beating and spray painting, servicing and repair of vehicles, sale of vehicles, manufacturing and assembling of goods, and retail sale of goods. These types of activities are better located within commercial locations and zones.

If you cannot achieve the requirements of a “home activity” a development application will need to be lodged with Council for the land use. Note that there may be some scope for Council to support some limited business activities through the development application process, provided the zoning envisages the use and scale proposed, and the impacts on neighbouring properties does not negatively affect the existing amenity that they enjoy (through traffic, noise, odours, visual impacts etc).

If you are seeking to further pursue this, then you are encouraged to make contact with Council’s Duty Planner to discuss your specific circumstances and confirm whether a development application is required.

Does my advertisement / sign need approval?

The Planning and Design Code supports the installation of advertisements to support the range of businesses that exist across the City of Marion. However, there are a range of different criteria relating to advertisements depending on the location of the site of the business and the type of signage proposal.

Generally, all advertisements that are external to a building and are visible from a street or public place will require approval from Council. The following are however excluded from this (but do not apply to any state heritage place):

Advertisements on the front façade of an existing business that are located on or below the fascia or verandah, i.e. less than 3.7m above ground level (subject to illumination, movement and reflectivity criteria)

• For Sale or For Lease signage for a property (subject to sizing, number and timing criteria)
• Builders signage relating to works being done on a site (subject to sizing and number criteria)
• Temporary advertisements promoting a religious, educational, cultural, social or recreational events (subject to some size, location and timing criteria)
• Moveable A-Frame signs, provided they are consistent with Council’s By-Law
• Home Activity advertisements, provided they are less than 0.2m² in size, not illuminated, move or flash in any way.

Note that any temporary signs that are located on the road verge or footpath (ie outside of the property), will require a permit to be issued by Council under Section 221 or the Local Government Act, 1999. You can apply for this here.

What type of signage is allowed?

If you need approval for your advertisement, then you will need to consider the zoning in place within the Planning and Design Code that applies to the site of your business, as these will influence the height and size that is appropriate. As a general rule if you achieve the following criteria, then your proposal will align with the Code policies:

• Suburban Activity Centre Zone: maximum structure height of 6m and an advertising area of no larger than 4m².
• Suburban Business Zone: maximum structure height of 8m and an advertising area of no larger than 6m²
• Local Activity Centre Zone: maximum structure height of 5m and an advertising area of no larger than 4m²
• Strategic Employment or Employment Zone: maximum structure height of 8m and an advertising area of no larger than 6m²
• Neighbourhood tpe Zone (ie residential zone): on a wall or fence and an advertising area of 0.3m²

Note that, should there be existing signage on the land, particularly for multiple tenancy sites, then Council would also consider the following:

• whether there is an excess of advertising on the land and whether this detracts from the appearance of the site or the amenity of the streetscape
• whether the advertisement is internally or externally illuminated and whether this would have an impact on neighbours or road users
• whether the placement of the advertisement will impact on sight lines for vehicles and pedestrians (creating a safety issue)

You are encouraged to consider these issues in scoping up any advertising you propose.

Note that where your site is on an arterial road and the proposed advertisement is to be illuminated and close to any traffic control device (such as traffic lights or pedestrian crossings), then it may also trigger a referral to the Commissioner of Highways, who will assess it against their safety criteria.

Council has prepared a Fact Sheet to provide further guidance and details for you if you are proposing advertisement for your business or property.

Liquor Licences are required for any business looking to serve or sell alcohol as part of its activities and are issued by Consumer and Business Services. All applications will need to be made to them directly. There are various types of licences that may suit your specific needs.

As part of your liquor licence application process, you are required to consult with Council and provide Council with the opportunity to provide comments. However, please also note that Council has a right of intervention under Section 76 of the Liquor Licensing Act 1997 to provide evidence or make representation at a hearing on the application request.

Applicants are encouraged to engage with Council early in the application process to avoid any complications in the issue of the Licence.

What does council consider?

Council considers the following matters to ensure the licence application aligns with any approvals in place for the subject land:

• is the intended liquor licence consistent with the land use approved for the land?
• does the intended capacity and opening hours identified within the licence align to the capacity and opening hours indicated and approved within the approved use of the land?
• does the extent of area(s) identified in the licence application align with the areas identified for the approved use of the land?
• if the licence extends onto the footpath or road verge, has a permit under Section 222 of the Local Government Act, 1999 been issued for this use for commercial purposes?
• will the proposed licence and hours associated have an impact on the amenity of the surrounding locality? (This is something that would be addressed through the Community Impact Assessment required for certain licences).
• have there been any complaints received relating to activities and nuisance from the use of the land (this is particularly relevant to any licence requests seeking to extend or change the licence in place).

It is in your interest to ensure that you address the above matters before submitting your Liquor Licence Application, to avoid delays or Council seeking a representation at a hearing of the application by the Commissioner.

Being sustainable does not necessarily mean spending more money. Careful design can be a cost-effective way of delivering a sustainable development.

Sustainable buildings:

• reduce greenhouse gas emissions and impacts on our environment
• can provide daily living cost savings in your building or home over the life of the development.

A sustainable building or home can:

Reduce energy usage through less reliance on mechanical heating and cooling:

• Consider the placement of your building on the land to take advantage of the sun and cooling breezes. Design your internal rooms with living areas to the north and sleeping areas to the south. This is called passive design and is one of the cheapest and most effective ways of reducing energy needs of your building.
• Include northern and western eaves on your building to shade your home from the heat of the summer sun.
• Use light coloured roofs that help reflect heat rather than dark coloured roofs that aid in absorbing heat and increase internal temperatures.
• Consider building materials that make the most of thermal mass. Thermal mass is the ability of a material to absorb. Store and release heat at different times of the day. Thermal mass assists in heating and cooling your home.
• Consider increasing the insulation applied to your walls and roofing. Insulation is a material the slows or prevents the flow of heat and helps keep he heat inside your home in winter and outside your home in summer.
• Consider installing or replacing windows with double glazing to reduce one of the biggest source of heat gain and loss. They also can help with reducing noise intrusion.
• Use energy efficient light fittings and appliances, including installation of solar panels, and battery storage. Choose electric appliances over gas to save money on household bills, increasing energy efficiency and reduce your environmental impact.
• Install landscaping to the rear and sides of your building in a way that provides shade in summer and access to winter sunlight (use of pergolas, deciduous trees and vines in particular are useful for this).
• Keep your floor plan compact and consider the amount of space you really need. The bigger it is, the more it will cost to heat and cool, not to mention build!

Reduce water usage and runoff into the stormwater system:

• Install water efficient appliances that have a 3 star or greater WELS rating.
• Include the largest rainwater tank you can fit in your yard that collects water from as much of the roof of the house – and use it regularly.
• Reduce the extent of impervious (solid) ground surfaces around the home and in your yards to support filtration of rainwater into the ground and reduce run-off into the stormwater system.
• Minimise use of lawn in your yards, and plant vegetation that has low watering needs and is more drought tolerant.

Reduce waste produced:

• Consider where waste will be generated and stored and plan for this in the design of your home. Provide space in the kitchen for green, recycling, and general waste bins to make it easier to sort your waste at the source.
• Install a compost bin and supply it with your green waste.

Make the most of embodied energy:

• Consider an addition or alteration to the existing building instead of complete demolition as that makes use of the existing embodied energy in the building.

Increase connection with nature and biodiversity

• Plant local native trees and plants on your property – they suit the local climate and provide habitat for native bees, birds, insects and lizards.
• Avoid pest plants such as gazanias, fountain grass, Red Valerian (Kiss-Me-Quick) or Ice Plant species as they can spread to native bushland.
• Consider Tom Thumb, Australian Native Violet, Weeping Grass or Kneed Wallaby Grass as alternatives to lawn.

Some other resources

There are many guides which can provide you with much more detailed information about how you can develop a sustainable building. We encourage you to explore these and provide some examples as starting points:

City of Marion – Sustainable Homes

City of Marion – Home Energy

Your Home (Australian Government)

Sustainable Home Renovations Guide (Green Buildings Council)

Water Sensitive Design SA

Adelaide Garden Guide (Plan SA)

Adelaide Gardens Planting Guide (Green Adelaide)

Coastal Gardens Planting Guide (Green Adelaide)

5 common weeds that might be escaping from your garden (Green Adelaide)

Adelaide Garden Guide (Plan SA)

Adelaide Gardens Planting Guide (Green Adelaide)

Coastal Gardens Planting Guide (Green Adelaide)

Choosing Your Plants (Green Adelaide)

Water Sensitive Urban Design (Water Sensitive SA)

Sustainable Home Renovations Guide (Green Building Council)

The future impacts of climate change are known to have an impact on our cities and urban environments in particular. The impacts of this will be:

• More hotter days and nights, meaning more residue heat loads in built up areas with solid surfaces. This will have an impact on the comfort of these places, and potentially increase reliance on air conditioning.
• More severe weather events, which may include flash flooding, winds or hail, that have the potential to cut power supplies for periods, cause damage to structures and property, as well as potentially put lives at risk.

Mitigating these impacts requires large scale changes across everything we do to make a real difference. However, when designing a new development, there are things that can be done on your property which, when actioned collectively, can make a difference.

Reduce heat loads

• Make sure your house does not have dark coloured roof surfaces which increase heat loads.
• Reduce the extent of solid surfaces on your property that will reflect heat during the day and emit heat at night. Maximising landscaped spaces will reduce the generation of heat loads across your property.
• Plant more vegetation that provides cover. This can be in the form of trees or the use of vines and creepers on pergolas. If strategically positioned, they can shade surfaces of the building, reducing the heat load on the building or courtyard spaces, as well freshen prevailing breezes that pass through your site. Deciduous species will allow for sunlight access in winter.
• Think about using liveable building features on your building. This can include green walls or green roofs that not only reduce heat loads, can actually add thermal protection insulation to your structure.

Respond to more frequent drought conditions

• Select plants that are more suited to drought and low watering conditions. Consider that our climate will be moving to a more arid climate into the future and adapt plantings that work best for this.
• Avoid extensive areas of turf which will increasingly rely in irrigation to survive.
• Install rainwater tanks that would allow for more frequent watering of vegetation across the site.

Mitigate Flooding impacts

• Reduce the extent of solid surfaces on your site that prevent infiltration of rainwater and contribute to increasing flows off site and into our stormwater system.
• Make sure your property is positioned high enough on the land to avoid future flooding impacts if your property is within a flood prone area
• Install rainwater tanks connected to as much of your roof as possible to collect as much rainwater as possible and reduce run-off downstream.
• Install solar panels and battery system which can provide some level of power supply in the event of outages in the grid.

Visit our Environment pages to find out more information about how we are responding to climate change.