Design Guidelines

Council’s Neighbourhood Character Policy at Clause 22.01 of the Monash Planning Scheme applies to all residential land in Monash and seeks to enhance its garden city character and ensure development is consistent with the key characteristics and the desired future character of each designated character precinct. More information: Neighbourhood Character.

The following guidelines may affect your planning permit application or proposed development:

Special Building Overlay - Guidelines(PDF, 234KB)

  • The Special Building Overlay has been introduced into the Monash Planning Scheme at the request of Melbourne Water. Planning permit approval may be required for any building or works, including fencing, in the Special Building Overlay areas.

Cultural Heritage Management Plans - Guidelines(PDF, 526KB)

  • A Cultural Heritage Management Plan is a written report that identifies and assesses the nature of any Aboriginal cultural heritage present on a site, and makes recommendations to mitigate harm to that heritage.

Electricity Supply Meter Boxes - Guidelines(PDF, 193KB)

  • Meter box installations can be an ugly intrusion in the streetscape. The objective of these guidelines is to ensure that meter box installations are integrated into a development sensitively and unobtrusively.

Home-Based Business in Monash - Guidelines(PDF, 126KB)

  • Many people operate their own small business from their residential home. Such a use is called a home-based business. The Monash Planning Scheme allows a person to use their residential home for home occupation provided certain requirements are satisfied.

Land Subject to Flooding - Overlay(PDF, 313KB)

  • The Land Subject to Inundation Overlay has been introduced into the Monash Planning Scheme at the request of Melbourne Water. Planning permit approval may be required for any building or works, including fencing, in the Land Subject to Inundation Overlay areas.  

Multi-Unit and Commercial Developments Waste Management Plan - Guide for Applicants(PDF, 1MB)

  • This guide has been developed to provide planning permit applicants with information on how to prepare a Waste Management Plan to manage the waste and recycling needs of their development. 

Neighbourhood Description - Guidelines(PDF, 52KB)

  • The Monash Planning Scheme, clause 54.01 & 55.01, requires the provision of a Neighbourhood Description that must accurately describe several requirements.

Non-Residential Uses in Residential Zones - Guidelines(PDF, 129KB)

  • This guide has been prepared to help applicants in the selection of a site for a range of land uses specified as Section 2 – Permit required uses in the residential zones of the Monash Planning Scheme, and in the design of buildings and site layout.

Places of Assembly and Worship - Guidelines(PDF, 91KB)

  • This guide has been prepared to help applicants in the selection of a site for a Place of Assembly / Place of Worship, and in the design of the building and site layout (including car parking and landscaping).

Student Accommodation - Guidelines(PDF, 637KB)

  • Council’s strategic statement, Monash 2012, identifies there is an increasing demand for a variety of different housing styles to cater for changing household sizes and structures.

Urban Design in the Monash Technology Precinct - Guidelines(PDF, 1MB)

  • These guidelines have been prepared to give direction for developers and Council Officers to achieve the preferred built-form outcomes for new development in the Monash Technology Precinct.

Brothels in Monash - Guidelines(PDF, 43KB)

  • The City of Monash must consider matters set out in section 73 of the Prostitution Control Act 1994 before deciding on an application to use or develop land for a brothel.

Child Care Centres - Guidelines(PDF, 162KB)

  • This guide has been prepared to help applicants in the selection of a site for a child care centre, and in the design of the building and site layout (including car parking and landscaping).

Medical and Veterinary Centres - Guidelines(PDF, 155KB)

  • This guide has been prepared to help applicants in the selection of a site for a medical centre or veterinary clinic, and in the design of the building and site layout (including car parking and landscaping).

Car Parking in Monash - Guidelines(PDF, 514KB)

  • This guide defines Council’s requirements for the provision of on-site car parking spaces and provides general guidance in the standards of performance expected for the provision of car parking for various uses and/or developments in Monash.

Multi-Storey Developments - Guidelines(PDF, 722KB)

  • This Guide has been prepared to help people with an interest in high-density development. It clearly identifies Council’s current guidelines for development of residential buildings of three storeys and above within the municipality.