Every planning control identified for any lot | Every planning rule & overlay cross-referenced in one query | Approval likelihood scored for every control | Conflicts and overrides resolved automatically | Every answer cited to the source clause | Ask planning questions in plain English | Results in under 1 second | Every planning control identified for any lot | Every planning rule & overlay cross-referenced in one query | Approval likelihood scored for every control | Conflicts and overrides resolved automatically | Every answer cited to the source clause | Ask planning questions in plain English | Results in under 1 second |
Suburb planning guide · Updated 2026-06-08

Buffalo River, VIC 3737 Zoning, development potential & planning controls

Farming Zone dominant. 310 lots resolved to zone, overlays and development potential.

Dominant zone
FZ
Farming Zone
Median rent (house)
$485
per week
small second dwelling eligible
0
lots
Total lots
310
83.7 km²

Zoning

What you can build in Buffalo River

Buffalo River is dominated by FZFarming Zone. Land use, building height, overlays, and permitted development are set per zone in the planning scheme under the Victorian Planning Provisions, with ResCode governing residential design.

FZ
Dominant
FZ Farming Zone 57.4%
PCRZ Public Conservation and Resource Zone 23.5%
RLZ Rural Living Zone 16.5%
TRZ Transport Zone 2.6%
Avg max height
6.0 m

Limit varies by lot — check your address for the exact figure.

Theoretical dwellings

Modelled dwelling capacity if every lot built to its zone controls.

Use mix
Residential17%
Environment24%
Rural57%

Location

Where Buffalo River sits

Buffalo River 3737 covers 83.7 km² within Alpine.

Overlays © NSW Government
Council
Alpine
Postcode
3737
Area
83.67 km²
Total lots
310

Drill into any lot in Buffalo River

Open the interactive map — click any address to see its zone, height, FSR, overlays, and approval likelihood.

Open interactive map

Development potential

Where the upside is in Buffalo River

We score every lot for development signal — under-built relative to the controls, eligible for a small second dwelling, or sized for subdivision.

small second dwelling eligible
0

under the VPP small second dwelling provisions (Clause 52.18 / 54)

Subdivision potential
0

lots that may support subdivision

Total dev potential
0 lots

show at least one development signal

Rezoning signal score
7.0 /100

average uplift signal across the suburb

Own a property in Buffalo River?

Check your lot's exact development potential — height, FSR, granny flat, subdivision, dual-occ.

Run a report on your address

Constraints & risks

What could stop you in Buffalo River

25% of lots are in mapped flood zones — material for any development; also: 100% of lots are bushfire-prone — a bushfire assessment is likely required.

Suburb-wide percentages — your specific lot may have all, some, or none of these.

Flood / inundation overlay 24.5%

LSIO / Floodway overlay

Bushfire management overlay 99.7%

BMO — BAL assessment triggered

Heritage Overlay None

HO — controls on demolition & works

Potentially contaminated None

Near a recorded contaminated site

Market

Buffalo River property market

Rent and market context from state rental bond and demographic data.

Median rent (house)
$485 / wk
Houses

Sale-price history isn't yet loaded for this suburb — rent and planning data are shown where available.

0

FAQs

Common questions about Buffalo River

What's the zoning in Buffalo River 3737?

Buffalo River is dominated by the FZ (Farming Zone) zone, which covers 178 of 310 lots (57%). The full mix is: FZ Farming Zone (57%), PCRZ Public Conservation and Resource Zone (24%), RLZ Rural Living Zone (17%), TRZ Transport Zone (3%).

What's the building height limit in Buffalo River?

Across Buffalo River, the average maximum building height is 6.0 m. Height is set per zone in the planning scheme (Victorian Planning Provisions) and can be varied by overlays and schedules. For the exact control on a specific address, generate a planning report.

Can I build a small second dwelling in Buffalo River?

Most lots in Buffalo River aren't eligible for a small second dwelling under the VPP small second dwelling provisions (Clause 52.18 / 54) — typically because the dominant zoning (FZ) doesn't permit it, or lot sizes fall below the minimum. Always verify on the specific address.

What's the median rent in Buffalo River?

Median weekly rent for a house in Buffalo River is $485.

What planning constraints apply in Buffalo River?

Across Buffalo River, 24.5% flood-affected, 99.7% bushfire-prone. These are suburb-wide percentages — every lot has its own combination. A planning report on a specific address shows exactly which controls apply.

What's the development potential of Buffalo River?

0 of 310 lots in Buffalo River show identifiable development potential — under-developed for the planning controls, eligible for a small second dwelling, or capable of subdivision. Average rezoning signal score: 7.0 / 100.

Get a planning report for any address in Buffalo River

Suburb-wide stats are useful for context. For a buy-or-walk decision on a specific lot, you need every control, every constraint, and every clause cited to source.

Run a report — from A$29

14-section report · planning scheme + overlays cross-referenced · cited to source

Methodology & sources

Zoning, height, overlays and development potential computed from the Alpineplanning scheme (Victorian Planning Provisions) and lot-level cadastre (310 lots). Hazard overlays, demographics and rent drawn from Victorian Planning Provisions & planning schemes, Victorian Building Authority / building permit activity, Victoria in Future, and ABS Census 2021. Aggregated by ZoneDSS · last updated 2026-06-08.

Suburb-wide statistics — your specific lot may vary. Always run a planning report on the actual address before making a decision. How ZoneDSS works →