Residential development adjacent to your property can affect you and your environment. This is predominantly a planning issue and before you read this you may wish to read some information about planning generally and how to object to proposed development that may affect you. Residential development standards apply to all dwellings in Victoria. These 14 standards cover:

• Street setback – Standard A3 and B6

• Building height – Standard A4 and B7

• Site coverage – Standard A5 and B8

• Permeability – Standard A6 and B9

• Parking provision – Standard A9 and B16

• Side and rear setbacks – Standard A10 and B17

• Walls on boundaries – Standard A11 and B18

• Daylight to existing windows – Standard A12 and B19

• North-facing windows – Standard A13 and B20

• Overshadowing open space – Standard A14 and B21

• Overlooking – Standard A15 and B22

• Daylight to new windows – Standard A16 and B27

• Private open space – Standard A17 and B28

• Front fences – Standard A20 and B32

Clause 54 relates to situations where there is one dwelling per lot and clause 55 relates to where there are two or more dwellings on a lot and residential buildings. The primary clauses that relate to overshadowing and overlooking are 54.04 Amenity Impacts and 55.04 Amenity Impacts.

Further information about Residential Development more broadly can also be found here.

Some councils provide similar information on their websites. For example, Whittlesea has some useful information here.

If you are thinking about objecting to a neighbour’s development, you may wish to get an opinion from a planner or an architect on the accuracy and appropriateness of your neighbour's plans.

Another option is to consult the Law Institute of Victoria to find a specialist lawyer who will be able to give you up to 30 minutes free legal advice. They can be found here.

For general advice and guidance on neighbourhood disputes see Reaching Agreement - practical advice for communicating with your neighbour