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

Torquay, VIC 3228 Zoning, development potential & planning controls

General Residential Zone dominant. Median sale $1.26M over the last 24 months. 11,209 lots resolved to zone, overlays and development potential.

Dominant zone
GRZ
General Residential Zone
Median dwelling value
$1.26M
modelled value
small second dwelling eligible
8,371
lots
Total lots
11,209
34.5 km²

Zoning

What you can build in Torquay

Torquay is dominated by GRZGeneral Residential 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.

GRZ
Dominant
GRZ General Residential Zone 80.8%
CDZ Comprehensive Development Zone 6.1%
LDRZ Low Density Residential Zone 4.2%
IN3Z Industrial 3 Zone 3.8%
C1Z Commercial 1 Zone 2.3%
SUZ Special Use Zone 1.0%
PPRZ Public Park and Recreation Zone 0.7%
FZ Farming Zone 0.5%
PCRZ Public Conservation and Resource Zone 0.3%
PUZ Public Use Zone 0.2%
UGZ Urban Growth Zone 0.1%
TRZ Transport Zone 0.0%
Avg max height
11.0 m

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

Theoretical dwellings
45,598

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

Use mix
Residential85%
Commercial8%
Industrial4%
Environment1%
Rural1%

Location

Where Torquay sits

Torquay 3228 covers 34.5 km² within Surf Coast.

Overlays © NSW Government
Council
Surf Coast
Postcode
3228
Area
34.48 km²
Total lots
11,209

Drill into any lot in Torquay

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 Torquay

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
8,371

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

Subdivision potential
5,710

lots that may support subdivision

Total dev potential
8,541 lots

show at least one development signal

Rezoning signal score
47.0 /100

average uplift signal across the suburb

Own a property in Torquay?

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 Torquay

a small share of lots (0.1%) intersect flood mapping; also: 0% of lots carry a Heritage Overlay.

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

Flood / inundation overlay 0.1%

LSIO / Floodway overlay

Bushfire management overlay 1.4%

BMO — BAL assessment triggered

Heritage Overlay 0.1%

HO — controls on demolition & works

Potentially contaminated 7.0%

Near a recorded contaminated site

Market

Torquay property market

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

Median sale price (24m)
$1,255,000
0 sales
Median rent (house)
$600 / wk
Houses

Demographics & lifestyle

Who lives in Torquay

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

Amenity score
65.0 /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 Torquay

What's the zoning in Torquay 3228?

Torquay is dominated by the GRZ (General Residential Zone) zone, which covers 9,058 of 11,209 lots (81%). The full mix is: GRZ General Residential Zone (81%), CDZ Comprehensive Development Zone (6%), LDRZ Low Density Residential Zone (4%), IN3Z Industrial 3 Zone (4%), C1Z Commercial 1 Zone (2%), SUZ Special Use Zone (1%), PPRZ Public Park and Recreation Zone (1%), FZ Farming Zone (1%), PCRZ Public Conservation and Resource Zone (0%), PUZ Public Use Zone (0%), UGZ Urban Growth Zone (0%), TRZ Transport Zone (0%).

What's the building height limit in Torquay?

Across Torquay, the average maximum building height is 11.0 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 Torquay?

Yes — 8,371 lots in Torquay 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 Torquay?

The median sale price in Torquay over the past 24 months is $1,255,000, across 0 sales.

What's the median rent in Torquay?

Median weekly rent for a house in Torquay is $600.

What planning constraints apply in Torquay?

Across Torquay, 0.1% flood-affected, 0% with heritage controls, 1.4% bushfire-prone, 7.0% 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 Torquay?

8,541 of 11,209 lots in Torquay show identifiable development potential — under-developed for the planning controls, eligible for a small second dwelling, or capable of subdivision. Average rezoning signal score: 47.0 / 100.

Get a planning report for any address in Torquay

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 Surf Coastplanning scheme (Victorian Planning Provisions) and lot-level cadastre (11,209 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 →