Questions & Answers

Do I need to finish construction before obtaining separate titles?

Yes. For a dual occupancy, the dwellings generally need to be constructed and have their Certificates of Occupancy and Use before separate unit titles can be approved.

You may be able to lodge the unit title application earlier, but the required completion documents, including the Certificates of Occupancy and Use, must be provided before final approval of the unit titles.

ACT Government – Advisory Note 19: Block Subdivision versus Unit Title Subdivision in Residential Zones – Block Subdivision vs Unit Title Subdivision (Residential Zones)

Last reviewed: 27 August 2026 Information current as at: 1 September 2026

Short Answer

Yes. The dwellings generally need to be completed and have Certificates of Occupancy and Use before separate unit titles can be approved, although the unit title application may be lodged earlier.

Detailed Explanation

Yes. For unit title subdivision, all dwellings must be constructed and the required Certificates of Occupancy and Use obtained before approval of the unit title application can be granted.

While the application may be lodged before the most recent Certificates of Occupancy and Use are available, those certificates must subsequently be provided as further information before the Territory Planning Authority can approve the application.

Key Point

No minimum block size does not remove the need for planning assessment.

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