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

Essendon, VIC 3040 Zoning, development potential & planning controls

Housing Choice and Transport Zone dominant. Median sale $1.76M over the last 24 months. 14,037 lots resolved to zone, overlays and development potential.

Dominant zone
HCTZ
Housing Choice and Transport Zone
Median dwelling value
$1.76M
modelled value
small second dwelling eligible
4,418
lots
Total lots
14,037
6.2 km²

Zoning

What you can build in Essendon

Essendon is dominated by HCTZHousing Choice and Transport 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.

HCTZ
Dominant
HCTZ Housing Choice and Transport Zone 41.4%
R1Z Residential 1 Zone 37.8%
B1Z Business 1 Zone 6.7%
B2Z Business 2 Zone 4.8%
C1Z Commercial 1 Zone 3.7%
RGZ Residential Growth Zone 2.3%
PPRZ Public Park and Recreation Zone 1.5%
MUZ Mixed Use Zone 1.1%
B4Z Business 4 Zone 0.4%
TRZ Transport Zone 0.3%
PUZ Public Use Zone 0.1%
SUZ Special Use Zone 0.0%
Avg max height
10.0 m

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

Theoretical dwellings
54,789

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

Use mix
Residential41%
Commercial16%
Environment2%

Location

Where Essendon sits

Essendon 3040 covers 6.2 km² within Moonee Valley.

Overlays © NSW Government
Council
Moonee Valley
Postcode
3040
Area
6.16 km²
Total lots
14,037

Drill into any lot in Essendon

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 Essendon

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
4,418

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

Subdivision potential
9,291

lots that may support subdivision

Total dev potential
9,291 lots

show at least one development signal

Transport Oriented Dev
7,191 lots

within a TOD corridor (uplift expected)

Rezoning signal score
67.0 /100

average uplift signal across the suburb

Own a property in Essendon?

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 Essendon

a small share of lots (2.9%) intersect flood mapping; also: 10% of lots carry a Heritage Overlay.

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

Flood / inundation overlay 2.9%

LSIO / Floodway overlay

Bushfire management overlay None

BMO — BAL assessment triggered

Heritage Overlay 10.3%

HO — controls on demolition & works

Potentially contaminated 4.4%

Near a recorded contaminated site

Market

Essendon property market

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

Median sale price (24m)
$1,760,000
0 sales
Median rent (house)
$700 / wk
Houses

Demographics & lifestyle

Who lives in Essendon

ABS Census 2021 population data combined with lot-level amenity, healthcare, lifestyle, and crime indices.

Amenity score
85.0 /100

Walkable amenity within 1 km

Healthcare access
100.0 /100

GP / hospital / pharmacy proximity

Lifestyle score
100.0 /100

Cafés, parks, schools, transport

FAQs

Common questions about Essendon

What's the zoning in Essendon 3040?

Essendon is dominated by the HCTZ (Housing Choice and Transport Zone) zone, which covers 5,814 of 14,037 lots (41%). The full mix is: HCTZ Housing Choice and Transport Zone (41%), R1Z Residential 1 Zone (38%), B1Z Business 1 Zone (7%), B2Z Business 2 Zone (5%), C1Z Commercial 1 Zone (4%), RGZ Residential Growth Zone (2%), PPRZ Public Park and Recreation Zone (2%), MUZ Mixed Use Zone (1%), B4Z Business 4 Zone (0%), TRZ Transport Zone (0%), PUZ Public Use Zone (0%), SUZ Special Use Zone (0%).

What's the building height limit in Essendon?

Across Essendon, the average maximum building height is 10.0 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 Essendon?

Yes — 4,418 lots in Essendon appear eligible for a small second dwelling under the VPP small second dwelling provisions (Clause 52.18 / 54), based on lot size, zoning, and frontage. Eligibility is lot-specific: get a planning report on your address to confirm.

What's the median property price in Essendon?

The median sale price in Essendon over the past 24 months is $1,760,000, across 0 sales.

What's the median rent in Essendon?

Median weekly rent for a house in Essendon is $700.

What planning constraints apply in Essendon?

Across Essendon, 2.9% flood-affected, 10% with heritage controls, 4.4% near contaminated sites. 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 Essendon?

9,291 of 14,037 lots in Essendon show identifiable development potential — under-developed for the planning controls, eligible for a small second dwelling, or capable of subdivision. 7,191 lots fall within a Transport Oriented Development corridor. Average rezoning signal score: 67.0 / 100.

Get a planning report for any address in Essendon

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 Moonee Valleyplanning scheme (Victorian Planning Provisions) and lot-level cadastre (14,037 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 →