Reference Data · Victoria

Melbourne: what the planning scheme actually sets.

6 council-set control values across 12 residential zone schedules. Verified from the ordinance on 2026-06-28, at amendment VC312. As at 2026-08-05.

The zone code is not the answer — the schedule is. Two GRZ1 sites in different Victorian councils can carry different minimum lot sizes, because each council writes its own schedule to the state zone. Melbourne varies 6 control values from the Victoria Planning Provisions default across its 12 residential schedules. Those are listed first; everything else inherits the state number, which is stated as such rather than presented as this council's.

What Melbourne sets in schedule (6 values)

ScheduleZoneControlCouncil-set valueOrdinance
GRZ3 General Residential Maximum building height 12 m Cl.
GRZ5 General Residential Maximum building height 12 m Cl.
GRZ6 General Residential Maximum building height 14 m Cl.
GRZ7 General Residential Garden area 0% Cl.
NRZ1 Neighbourhood Residential Maximum building height 8 m Cl.
NRZ4 Neighbourhood Residential Maximum building height 10 m Cl.

These are the numbers that differ from the state default. A site in one of these schedules is assessed against the value above, not the VPP figure.

All 12 residential zone schedules

Every parameter below is marked council-set (written into this council's schedule) or state default (inherited from the Victoria Planning Provisions). A state default is Victoria's number, not Melbourne's.

ScheduleZoneControlsOrdinance
RGZ1
Melbourne Residential Growth Areas. All values VPP default. Via C179. 		Residential Growth
Cl. 32.07
Maximum building height: 13.5 m (state default)
Minimum lot size: 200 m² (state default)
Garden area: 0% (state default)
Maximum site coverage: 70% (state default)
Cl.
RGZ2
Public Housing Renewal — Abbotsford Street, North Melbourne. All values VPP default. Via C306. 		Residential Growth
Cl. 32.07
Maximum building height: 13.5 m (state default)
Minimum lot size: 200 m² (state default)
Garden area: 0% (state default)
Maximum site coverage: 70% (state default)
Cl.
GRZ1
General Residential Areas. All values VPP default. Via C179. Note: GRZ2 and GRZ4 do not exist in Melbourne. 		General Residential
Cl. 32.08
Maximum building height: 11 m (state default)
Minimum lot size: 300 m² (state default)
Garden area: 35% (state default)
Maximum site coverage: 65% (state default)
Cl.
GRZ3
Bishopscourt, East Melbourne. 12m mandatory height (above VPP 11m). Via C260. 		General Residential
Cl. 32.08
Maximum building height: 12 m (council-set)
Minimum lot size: 300 m² (state default)
Garden area: 35% (state default)
Maximum site coverage: 65% (state default)
Cl.
GRZ5
General Residential Areas — 12 Metre Height Limit. 12m mandatory height. Via C360melb. 		General Residential
Cl. 32.08
Maximum building height: 12 m (council-set)
Minimum lot size: 300 m² (state default)
Garden area: 35% (state default)
Maximum site coverage: 65% (state default)
Cl.
GRZ6
General Residential Areas — 14 Metre Height Limit. 14m mandatory height (above VPP 11m). Via C360melb. 		General Residential
Cl. 32.08
Maximum building height: 14 m (council-set)
Minimum lot size: 300 m² (state default)
Garden area: 35% (state default)
Maximum site coverage: 65% (state default)
Cl.
GRZ7
Via C480melb. All values VPP default. 		General Residential
Cl. 32.08
Maximum building height: 11 m (state default)
Minimum lot size: 300 m² (state default)
Garden area: 0% (council-set)
Maximum site coverage: 65% (state default)
Cl.
NRZ1
South Yarra, Royal Botanic Gardens. 8m mandatory height (below VPP 9m). Via C179. 		Neighbourhood Residential
Cl. 32.09
Maximum building height: 8 m (council-set)
Minimum lot size: 300 m² (state default)
Garden area: 35% (state default)
Maximum site coverage: 60% (state default)
Cl.
NRZ2
South Yarra, Fawkner Park. All values VPP default. Via GC172. 		Neighbourhood Residential
Cl. 32.09
Maximum building height: 9 m (state default)
Minimum lot size: 300 m² (state default)
Garden area: 35% (state default)
Maximum site coverage: 60% (state default)
Cl.
NRZ3
Neighbourhood Residential Areas. All values VPP default. Via GC172. 		Neighbourhood Residential
Cl. 32.09
Maximum building height: 9 m (state default)
Minimum lot size: 300 m² (state default)
Garden area: 35% (state default)
Maximum site coverage: 60% (state default)
Cl.
NRZ4
South Parkville. 10m/2 storeys mandatory height (above VPP 9m default). Via GC172. 		Neighbourhood Residential
Cl. 32.09
Maximum building height: 10 m (council-set)
Minimum lot size: 300 m² (state default)
Garden area: 35% (state default)
Maximum site coverage: 60% (state default)
Cl.
MUZ
Added via VC304 monitor. VPP defaults assumed — needs Playwright verification. 		Mixed Use
Cl. 32.04
Maximum building height: 13.5 m (state default)
Cl.

How this was compiled, and how far to trust it

All 12 schedules here were read and verified from the Melbourne planning scheme ordinance by a person. Last verified 2026-06-28. Current to amendment VC312.

Planning schemes are amended continuously and this page reflects the bundle as at 2026-08-05. Values shown as state defaults are the Victoria Planning Provisions figure for that zone — correct unless and until Melbourne writes a schedule value, which is exactly what the first table records.

This information is provided for research and preliminary screening only. It does not constitute professional planning, legal or architectural advice. Always verify with Melbourne before making decisions.

Check a specific address in Melbourne

These are the scheme-wide numbers. Which schedule applies to a given parcel — plus its overlays and permit triggers — depends on the site. Screen one free, no signup.

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Compare across the state: minimum lot sizes · height limits · all reference data