A deep soil zone is an area of soil that provides sufficient space and soil conditions to support the healthy growth and retention of trees, including their root systems.

For a dual-occupancy development, deep-soil provision is relevant where trees are being provided or retained to meet the applicable tree planting and canopy-cover requirements. The required area should therefore be determined from the applicable tree and canopy provisions and the particular trees proposed or retained.

Reference: Planning (Residential Zones) Technical Specifications 2026 (NI2026-303) – Planning (Residential Zones) Technical Specifications 2026

For a dual occupancy, privacy between the two dwellings should be considered as part of the overall design. The Missing Middle Housing Design Guide provides general guidance for multi-dwelling development on minimising overlooking between dwellings, balconies and private open spaces, including through appropriate siting, landscaping, fencing and screening.

These are design considerations applicable to missing-middle housing generally, rather than privacy rules written specifically for dual occupancy.

Reference: Planning (Missing Middle Housing) Design Guide 2026 – 5.2C Privacy and Outlook – ACT Missing Middle Housing Design Guide

You can find your property’s zoning using ACTmapi, the ACT Government’s official online mapping tool. Search for your property and use the Territory Plan Map to view its zone, such as RZ1 – Suburban Zone or another residential zone. ACT Planning specifically recommends ACTmapi for finding a block’s zone details and potential site considerations.

Once you know the zone, check the Territory Plan to determine what development is permitted and which planning requirements apply to the property.

An Assessment Requirement is a specific requirement in the Territory Plan that must be met for the development to be approved. These can set defined controls for matters such as building height, setbacks or other development limits. ACT Planning describes zone policies as containing the assessment requirements that must be met.

An Assessment Outcome describes the result the development is expected to achieve rather than prescribing only one way of achieving it. There is generally more flexibility in demonstrating how the proposal satisfies an Assessment Outcome.

Reference: ACT Territory Plan – Territory Plan 2023 | Notifiable instruments

Yes. During assessment, ACT Planning can identify parts of a Development Application that do not meet the Territory Plan requirements and provide pre-decision advice recommending changes to the design. The applicant can then amend the DA or ask ACT Planning to decide the application as originally submitted; if the identified issues are not resolved, the application may be refused.

ACT Planning can also conditionally approve a DA and require changes to plans or drawings. Those amended documents may need to be submitted to the Authority for review and endorsement before development starts or before the approval takes effect.

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

If a pipe runs underneath the proposed dwelling, first determine what the pipe is and who owns it.

• Sewer: Icon Water controls ACT water/sewer network assets. Alteration or relocation may be possible with Icon Water approval, although not all assets can be altered and approved works are generally at the applicant’s expense.
• Municipal stormwater: A new dwelling/building is not permitted within a stormwater easement. City Services does, however, have an approval process covering infrastructure relocation or removal.
• Private drainage: This may potentially be redesigned or relocated as part of the development’s plumbing/drainage design.

Importantly, moving the pipe does not automatically remove its easement. An existing easement may need to be legally changed or extinguished separately.

Reference: ACT City Services, Stormwater Applications – https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/plan-and-build/building-works/stormwater-applications & Icon Water, Relocate or Alter a Service – https://www.iconwater.com.au/Developers-and-Renovators/Relocate-or-alter-a-service