Yes, generally. Selling the property does not, by itself, cancel an existing Development Approval. An approved DA can generally remain applicable to the development after ownership changes, provided the approval is still current and its conditions are complied with.

Reference: ACT Property developers licensing scheme – https://www.planning.act.gov.au/professionals/regulation-and-responsibilities/property-developers-licensing-scheme

Yes. A new dual occupancy generally requires a separate Building Approval (BA) after Development Approval (DA).

The DA provides planning approval, while the BA assesses the detailed building work against the Building Act 2004, applicable building regulations and the National Construction Code (NCC). A licensed building surveyor is appointed as the certifier for the BA process.

Reference: ACT Complying with your development approval – https://www.planning.act.gov.au/applications-and-assessments/development-applications/complying-with-your-development-approval

Yes. Both dwellings in a dual occupancy can share a driveway, provided the driveway, parking and vehicle-access arrangement meets the applicable planning requirements.

The Missing Middle Housing Design Guide specifically recognises dual occupancy as multi-occupancy housing and refers to common landscaping where there is a shared driveway.

Under the Residential Zones Technical Specifications, the driveway and parking arrangement must also address requirements including:

• Required car parking: the required number of parking spaces must be provided for the dwellings.
• Parking location: parking must comply with the rules about where spaces can be located on the block.
• Tandem parking: spaces can be in tandem only where they belong to the same dwelling. This is important—a shared driveway does not mean one dwelling’s required parking space can be trapped behind the other dwelling’s parking space.
• Property boundaries: parking spaces must not encroach across property boundaries.
• Safe driveway design: Specification 27.4 requires verge crossings and internal driveways to be designed for safe use by pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, including consideration of vehicle-speed reduction measures.
• Garage/carport presentation: where garages or carports face a street, their openings are also subject to applicable streetscape controls.

The overall arrangement must therefore provide compliant vehicle access, parking and safe movement, even though the physical driveway itself may be shared.

Reference: Planning (Residential Zones) Technical Specifications 2026 (NI2026-303) – https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/View/ni/2026-303/current/PDF/2026-303.PDF & ACT Missing Middle Housing Design Guide – 3.1B Multi-Occupancy – ACT Missing Middle Housing Design Guide

Yes. A new driveway or verge crossing requires driveway approval from ACT City Services. For a dual occupancy, the proposed driveway may also form part of the Development Application and must comply with the applicable planning requirements.

A Building Approval alone does not approve the driveway—ACT City Services specifically states that stamped BA drawings from a certifier do not mean the driveway is approved.

Reference:ACT City Services – Domestic Driveways – https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/plan-and-build/building-works/driveway-applications

Yes, in limited circumstances. A Development Approval generally lasts for 5 years after it takes effect. An application to extend the approval can be made within 6 months after the end of that 5-year period, but the development must have started and substantially progressed, and the development would still need to be approvable if a DA were lodged at the time of the extension application.

Extensions can be granted more than once, but generally for a combined maximum of 2 additional years.

If the development has not started and substantially progressed, this extension pathway would not satisfy the stated requirements, and a new DA would generally be needed to proceed.

Reference: ACT Possible Outcomes – https://www.planning.act.gov.au/applications-and-assessments/development-applications/after-you-apply/possible-outcomes

Generally, no. The age of the existing house by itself does not determine whether a dual occupancy can be approved. The application is assessed against the current planning requirements applying to the block and proposed development.

The ACT Missing Middle Housing Design Guide specifically illustrates a detached dual occupancy that retains the existing dwelling, showing that retaining an older/existing house is contemplated.

However, the age of the house may become relevant if it has heritage protection or other site-specific constraints. Heritage requirements can affect alterations, additions, new buildings, demolition, landscaping, site coverage and setbacks.

Reference: ACT Missing Middle Housing Design Guide – ACT Missing Middle Housing Design Guide