What are the requirements for a unit title subdivision in the RZ1 – Suburban Zone?
A unit title subdivision lets you create separate legal titles for each dwelling in a completed multi-unit development.
- The dwellings must be fully built and have Occupancy Certificates before you apply.
- Each unit needs its own electricity and water meter.
- There must be at least two units and some common property, such as a shared driveway. An owners corporation manages the shared areas and costs.
- The development must meet the Crown lease requirements, including the allowed number of dwellings and lease purpose.
- In RZ1, dual occupancy may be allowed on blocks of at least 600 m², subject to Territory Plan requirements.
- Staged unit titling is not allowed for developments with fewer than five units.
Reference: ACT Government – Advisory Note 19: Block Subdivision versus Unit Title Subdivision in Residential Zones –Block Subdivision vs Unit Title Subdivision (Residential Zones)
Short Answer
A unit title subdivision creates separate titles for dwellings in a completed multi-unit development. The dwellings must be fully built with Occupancy Certificates, meet Crown lease and Territory Plan requirements, and generally have separate utility meters. At least two units and common property are required.
Detailed Explanation
A unit title subdivision allows a completed multi-unit development to be subdivided into individual unit titles.
- All dwellings must be fully constructed and have an Occupancy Certificate before you can apply for a unit title subdivision. The unit title process is a separate application completed after construction.
- Each unit must have its own electricity and water meters. Services such as electricity, sewer and stormwater may share the main connection point to the block.
- A unit title development must contain at least two units and include common property (such as shared driveways or facilities). The owners corporation is responsible for managing the common property and shared costs.
- A unit title application may not be approved if it does not meet the Crown lease requirements, including the permitted number of dwellings, lease purpose, or where less than 50 years remain on the lease. A further Crown lease can be applied for if required.
- In the RZ1 – Suburban Zone, dual occupancy development on a standard block is permitted where the block is at least 600 m² and all dwellings have been legally constructed. The subdivision must also comply with the Territory Plan.
- A staged unit title subdivision is not permitted where the development contains fewer than five units.
No minimum block size does not remove the need for planning assessment.
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