Canberra’s leading

Drafting & Approval Services for Secondary Residences & Granny Flats

Canberra’s leading choice for building design, drafting services, building approvals management and development applications. Bring your project to life with Canberra Drafting and Approvals tailored solutions.

Why Choose Us?

Custom Solutions

We design secondary residences and granny flats that perfectly match your needs and budget.

Hassle-Free Approval Process

Our team handles all the paperwork, making approvals fast and efficient.

Increase Property Value

We Design spaces enhance your property value & offer income.

Creative Design Excellence

Our innovative designs combine form and function for stunning results.

Adding a secondary dwelling can boost your property’s financial value and provide flexible living options for multi-generational families, friends, or additional income. We collaborate closely with you to understand your unique needs, wants, and budget, ensuring a perfect fit for your property. Our expertise in ACTPLA regulations guarantees smooth navigation through the process, from conception to completion.

From backyard retreats to guest houses, pool houses, or self-contained studios, we turn your vision into reality. Our local knowledge and planning experience allow us to design residences that align with your vision, budget, and regulatory requirements.

Why choose Canberra Drafting and Approvals?

We understand that every property is different, and so are the needs of our clients. We are based locally, and know the planning regulations like the back of our hand. Our experience team works closely with you to design a residence which perfectly aligns with your vision, budget (and of course ACTPLA’s regulations). When you work with us, we prioritize clear communication, transparency, attention to detail, and efficiency.

Can I get a secondary residence approved on my block?

This varies from block to block. We have some great blog posts about whether you are eligible or not, and if in doubt, feel free to get in contact with us and we can make an assessment. Feel free to also check out the further information on our Secondary Dwellings/Granny Flats page.

Can you design the residence to my construction budget?

Yes! We ensure the residence to be both functional, and most economical for an the builder. We will make sure the project is designed to be easily constructable and financially practical. Too often we see other designs which are impractical to build, and costly for the owner once approved.

Why don’t you have set designs?

It’s our opinion that set designs are a waste of time and money. Lots of Granny Flat and Studio Builders will force a design/product on you, to suit them. This will most likely not take advantage of existing vehicle access, block orientation and solar, existing structures on the block, etc. To make sure our client’s are getting the best outcome possible, we make sure to design every structure to suit the specific project.

* When filling out further information, please be as detailed as possible:

Description of new structure (size, location, bathrooms/bedrooms, etc)
Construction budget that you’re working towards for the project
Specific design needs/wants, and what your priorities are
- i.e. Design to have lots of natural light, smooth/quick approval process, clever use of space, cost efficient, etc
Timeframe that you’re working towards

Client Reviews

See what our past clients have to say about us.

    
 
 
        
   Rosie Wallace 
 2024-04-08
 
 
  Great team and service. They were prompt with my request, stress free, and super helpful with the design phase. The team lodged and tracked my job for me. Could not recommend Canberra Drafting and Approvals more.
  
 
       
   Georgia Lucas 
 2024-04-06
 
 
  Used Canberra Drafting for a new granny flat. The design was great and took my current house into account. They recommended a great builder, and I'm very happy with the final product.
  
 
       
   Admin SimpleSitePlans 
 2024-03-03
 
 
  Great knowledge about the approvals system, and helps us out with our more complex jobs. They provide us support for jobs such as subdivisions, unit titling, secondary residences, etc. Can't fault the service.
  
 
       
   Admin PlusD Engineering 
 2024-02-28
 
 
  Canberra Drafting and Approvals are quick to turn around plans and building designs. We’ve engineered many of their designs and the finished products have turned out great. Highly recommend Canberra Drafting and Approvals.

Efficient Project Workflow

Step One

Contact Us - Quote Provided

Reach out to us for an initial consultation to discuss your project needs and get a price and timeframe estimate. After the consultation, you will receive a full quote for our services.

Step Two

Concept Sketch & Plans

We provide initial floor plans based on your project brief and refine the design meticulously until you are completely satisfied before proceeding to working drawings.

Step Three

Working Drawings

Once you approve the initial design, we create comprehensive working drawings, including site, floor, roof, and elevation plans, which you can review and modify as needed.

Step Four

Approval & Construction

we handle the necessary forms and documents for project approval, liaising with external consultants as needed. We can also connect you with reputable local builders for quotes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay for an initial consultation?

No, our initial consultations are free! This is a time where we can discuss what you had in mind for the project, and get further details. After this meeting, we can provide a quote for the works.

Is my quote a fixed price quote?

Yes, generally all of our quotes are fixed price quotes. In unique situations, we do offer our services at an hourly rate. Further, any unknowns or anything outside the scope of the quote may attract additional charges. Our team will always discuss this with you before going ahead with anything.

What residential services do you offer?

We offer a wide range of services that include both small and large scale construction. We make sure all projects are tailored to your needs, and can provide custom large homes, single storey, split level, multi-storey homes and more. We provide custom family solutions, and specialize in Granny Flats and Secondary Residences. We can also help turn your current home into your dream home through additions and extensions. This could be master retreats, extra bedrooms, revamped kitchens and bathrooms, and more

Can you help with subdivision of my block, and unit titling?

Yes, we specialize in these sorts of projects. Secondary residences and granny flats are our specialty. We can take a look at your block and crown lease, and have a discussion about what’s possible.

Can you complete all documents, and liaise with other contractors for me?

Yes, we complete all documents for the approvals process, and guide you on anything external that you need to do. This could be anything from appointment of builder forms, to energy ratings, to structural engineering.

How do I know what I can build on my block?

We have some really great blog posts talking about what you can and can’t build on your block. Further, you can get in touch with us and we can walk you through what’s possible.