In brief:

• The ACT Government will start new housing reforms on 1 July 2026.
• They will make it easier to build more low-rise homes in established suburbs.
• The Budget and planning changes will help lower costs and speed up construction.

A key element of the ACT Government’s missing middle housing reforms will start on 1 July 2026.

The Legislative Assembly has passed the reforms to the Territory Plan. These will begin on 1 July 2026.

The reforms will enable more low-rise homes to be built in established suburbs through:

• clearer requirements
• streamlined approval pathways.

Missing middle housing includes low‑rise homes such as:

• duplexes and triplexes
• terraces
• townhouses
• apartments up to two (RZ1) and three storeys (RZ2).

Budget supports the reforms

The 2026–27 ACT Budget supports uptake of the reforms.

Eligible missing middle housing developments will be subject to a time‑limited 50% reduction in the Lease Variation Charge (LVC).

This lowers the cost of varying a Crown Lease to allow additional dwellings in established residential areas.

The LVC reduction will apply to eligible developments until June 2029. It is intended to support construction activity through to 31 December 2030.

This aligns with the ACT Government’s commitment to enable 30,000 new homes by 2030, most to be delivered through infill development in established suburbs rather than greenfield expansion.

It also aligns with National Housing Accord targets.

The Canberra House Pattern Book

The Budget also invests in the development of a Canberra House Pattern Book.

This will provide pre-approved, architect-designed plans for low-rise, medium-density homes.

The Pattern Book will be supported by streamlined approval processes. This means that once established, builders can start construction on new homes sooner.

Territory Plan changes

The Territory Plan amendments will begin in July.

These allow missing middle housing to be built in Canberra’s established suburbs.

The changes are supported by:

• the new Missing Middle Housing Design Guide
• requirements to consider the character of Canberra’s suburbs.

Missing Middle housing will now be permitted in the RZ1 zone, with further opportunities opened in the RZ2 zones.

This brings more housing choice to most of the ACT’s residential land.

Housing options include low‑rise residential developments which can be:

• up to two storeys for RZ1
• up to three storeys for RZ2.

Changes to planning laws

Associated amendments to planning legislation are currently before the Legislative Assembly.  

These are expected to begin later in 2026, subject to passage.

The amendments are intended to help well‑designed, smaller‑scale projects move from concept to construction.

These changes will make it easier to subdivide land and build new missing middle housing more quickly.

Read more like this:

• ACT Budget invests in housing access and affordability
• Expanding social and affordable housing in Canberra
• Canberrans show support for ‘missing middle’ changes

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