Do garages, carports and covered outdoor areas count toward site coverage?
Generally, yes. Garages, carports and other roofed areas can count toward site coverage. Unroofed outdoor or paved areas are treated differently and should not automatically be included.
Yes, generally. Site coverage is based on the area of the site occupied by buildings and roofed structures. This means structures such as garages and carports generally contribute to site coverage.
A covered outdoor area may also contribute to site coverage where it forms part of the roofed/built development. By contrast, unroofed areas should not automatically be treated as site coverage merely because they are paved or used as outdoor space.
For a dual occupancy, all relevant roofed structures should therefore be considered when calculating the total site coverage against the applicable limit.
Reference: Residential Zones Technical Specifications 2026 (NI2026-303) – Site Coverage provisions - https://www.planning.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/3092411/ACT-Missing-Middle-Housing-Design-Guide.pdf
Link on the answer: https://www.planning.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/3092411/ACT-Missing-Middle-Housing-Design-Guide.pdf
Where this question is kept
| Dual Occupancy Q&A | #435 | agrees | 17/08/2026 |