Are shadow diagrams required for a dual-occupancy DA?
Not always. For a dual-occupancy DA, shadow diagrams are required if relevant or requested by ACT Planning, including where requested at a pre-application meeting.
Whether they are needed will therefore depend on the particular proposal and its potential overshadowing impacts.
Reference: ACT Planning (Minimum Development Application Documentation) Guideline 2026 (No 1) (NI2026-13)
Detailed Explanation
Shadow diagrams are not mandatory documentation for every dual-occupancy DA. Under the Planning (Minimum Development Application Documentation) Guideline 2026 (NI2026-13), a shadow diagram for dual occupancy is identified as “required if relevant or requested (including at a pre-application meeting)”, rather than unconditionally required.
ACT Planning may also request additional information where necessary to assist with assessment, including information not otherwise marked as mandatory in the Guideline.
No minimum block size does not remove the need for planning assessment.
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