Can you build a granny flat in Shepparton? In most cases, yes. Under VC253 (Dec 2023) a small second dwelling up to 60 m2 usually needs no planning permit in Victoria, but a building permit is always needed. EcoPrestige designs and manufactures modular granny flats for Goulburn Valley homeowners, and our sister company holds the domestic building contract.
This guide is for owners in Shepparton, Mooroopna, Kialla, Tatura, Murchison and Dookie who want a second small home on their block for a parent, an adult child or a family member who needs to be close. The usual problem is not the idea. It is the order of steps: what the Greater Shepparton City Council needs to see, who signs the permit, and how to get a finished home onto the lot without months of trades in the backyard.
Why a modular granny flat suits Shepparton blocks
Many Goulburn Valley lots are wide, flat and reachable from the street or a side lane. That suits modular. The modules arrive finished and are lifted onto prepared footings, so the noise and mess of a full build stays away from the main house.
Local trades are busy across the region. A module built in the factory does not wait on a framing crew or a run of dry weather. The site team only needs to prepare footings, services and the connection points while the home is being built.
If you are still choosing a block, a short feasibility check first can save a costly purchase. See our guide to feasibility before you buy the site.
What EcoPrestige supplies
We supply engineered structural steel volumetric modules, fitted out before they leave the factory. That covers the frame, walls, roof, windows, kitchen, bathroom, laundry and internal finishes. As the manufacturer, EcoPrestige is responsible for every module: built and inspected in an offsite factory to Australian engineering and QA, then delivered to site.
- One or two bedroom layouts sized to stay within 60 m2 where you want to use the no planning permit pathway.
- Wet areas and kitchens finished and inspected before delivery.
- Footing and connection details for the site builder.
- A supply price quoted for your site, not a guess from a catalogue.
Homeowners usually come in through our Domestic Program. Step 1 checks your site. Step 2 covers design, permits and the build by the practitioners Victoria requires.
Who does what in Victoria
EcoPrestige designs and manufactures the modules. Design, permit documentation and construction are contracted by our sister company DST Project Management and Construction Pty Ltd, registered domestic builder CDB-U 72187.
The structural design is signed by a PERA-registered structural engineer. A registered building surveyor issues the building permit and carries out the mandatory inspections. An accredited NatHERS assessor prepares the home energy rating. Confirm the full list with your building surveyor.
The 60 m2 pathway has conditions. The lot must already have a house, and the zone and any overlays must allow it. If an overlay applies, a planning permit may still be needed from the Greater Shepparton City Council. Our page on the building permit for modular buildings explains the surveyor stages in more detail.
Where a modular granny flat does not fit
We will tell you early if the site does not work. The common reasons in the Goulburn Valley are:
- Land affected by flood overlays near the Goulburn and Broken rivers, where floor levels and footings change the design.
- Tight backyards with no truck or crane access past the house.
- Heritage overlays in older streets, which may need a planning permit.
- Bushfire overlays on rural edges, which set construction standards.
- Slopes that need retaining or tall footings.
The programme: factory and site at the same time
Once the building permit is issued, the factory builds the modules while the site builder prepares footings, drainage and service runs. The two streams run in parallel, so time on site is shorter. Delivery day is a planned lift, not a long build.
After the lift, the site team connects services, fits any decks or steps and completes final finishes. The building surveyor then carries out the final inspection. Read the installation and crane guide for what site access is needed.
What to send us
- 1. The street address and lot size.
- 2. Photos of the backyard and the access path from the street.
- 3. Who will live in it and how many bedrooms you need.
- 4. Any planning certificate or overlay information you have.
- 5. Your timing, and whether you have a builder in mind.
FAQ: granny flats in Shepparton
Do I need a planning permit for a granny flat in Shepparton?
Usually not, if it is a small second dwelling up to 60 m2 that meets the VC253 conditions. Overlays such as flood or heritage can still trigger a planning permit, so check with the Greater Shepparton City Council.
Do I still need a building permit?
Yes. A building permit from a registered building surveyor is always needed for a granny flat in Victoria, whether or not a planning permit applies.
Who builds the granny flat on my block?
EcoPrestige designs and manufactures the modules. Design, permit documentation and construction are contracted by our sister company DST Project Management and Construction Pty Ltd, registered domestic builder CDB-U 72187.
Check your Shepparton block
Send the site, the use and any drawings to prebuilt@ecoprestige.com.au or download our technical brochures.