Buildings constructed and renovated in accordance with Amendment C376 Sustainable Building Design will help make the city greener, more liveable, and more resilient to climate change. The changes proposed through Amendment C376 Sustainable Building Design will also improve the energy efficiency and carbon emissions of buildings, which will in turn assist the City of Melbourne to achieve its target of net zero emissions by 2040 – our City’s contribution to the global effort in mitigating the worst effects of climate change.

The new planning rules will only apply to new planning applications – not existing buildings. Building owners and occupiers will not be required to make changes to existing buildings.

Proposed planning rules

All development including alterations and additions up to 1000sqm

All developments requiring a planning permit will be subject to new planning policy

A planning application for any new development – whether an extension to a house or a large new multi-storey office building, will need to consider new planning policies about improving outcomes for:

  • Biodiversity and waterways (Cl02.03)
  • Sustainable development (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Sustainable transport (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Stormwater management - water sensitive urban design (Cl19.03)

Image: Addition up to 1,000sqm – outside of the Capital City and Docklands Zones


New Planning Policy

Consideration will need to be given to the following new planning policies:

  • Biodiversity and waterways (Cl02.03)
  • Sustainable development (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Sustainable transport (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Stormwater management - water sensitive urban design (Cl19.03) applies to an addition greater than 50sqm.

New Buildings

Most new buildings will be subject to specific mandatory and preferred building design standards and requirements

Specific building design standards and requirements will apply to a planning application for a new building for the following uses:

  • Accommodation, such as a house or apartments
  • Retail, such as shopping centres
  • Office
  • Education centre, such as schools and universities
  • Research and development centre
  • Place of assembly, such as function centres or museums

The standards required depend on the scale of proposed developments, as detailed below.

Please select the category of development below that best applies to you to view the key proposed C376 requirements. Please refer to the Amendment Documents to view the complete requirements.

‘Should’ indicates a discretionary requirement which may, in the appropriate circumstances, be varied. ‘Must’ indicates a mandatory requirement.

Image: New building equal to or less than 5,000sqm


New Planning Policy

Consideration will need to be given to the following new planning policies:

  • Biodiversity and waterways (Cl02.03)
  • Sustainable development (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Sustainable transport (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Stormwater management - water sensitive urban design (Cl19.03).


Environmentally Sustainable Design

  • Should achieve a 70% BESS score.
  • Must achieve a 50% BESS score.

Energy Efficiency and Renewables

  • Should achieve a minimum 70% score in the BESS Energy category and must achieve a minimum 60% score in the BESS Energy category.
  • Residential must also achieve an average of at least 7.5 star NatHERS rating across multiple dwellings, and a minimum of 6.5 star NatHERS rating for each dwelling.

Waste and Resource Recovery

  • Must provide waste and resource recovery facilities that meet the requirements of the City of Melbourne’s Guidelines for Waste Management Plans.
  • Must meet the requirements of a precinct waste management plan, if there is one in place.

Urban Heat Island Response

  • Must provide the equivalent of at least 75% of the development’s total site area as building or landscape elements that reduce the impact of the urban heat island effect

Urban Ecology

  • Must be designed and constructed to achieve a minimum Green Factor score of 0.55 using City of Melbourne’s Green Factor Tool.

Integrated water management

  • Must achieve the best practice water quality performance objectives set out in the Urban Stormwater Best Practice Environmental Management Guidelines, CSIRO 1999.
  • Must connect to a precinct scale recycled water source if available.
  • Unless connected to a recycled water source, must install a rainwater tank to support on-site green cover or supply a minimum of 10% of internal water demand.
  • Should meet a minimum 50% score in BESS Water category.

Sustainable Transport in the Capital City and Docklands zones

  • Rates for car share, bicycle and motorcycle parking, and provision for electric vehicles.

Image: New building of more than 5,000sqm - residential


New Planning Policy

Consideration will need to be given to the following new planning policies:

  • Biodiversity and waterways (Cl02.03)
  • Sustainable development (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Sustainable transport (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Stormwater management - water sensitive urban design (Cl19.03) .

Environmentally Sustainable Design

  • Should achieve 6 Star Green Star Buildings.
  • Must achieve 5 Star Green Star Buildings.

Energy Efficiency and Renewables

  • Must achieve an average of at least 7.5 star NatHERS rating across multiple dwellings, and a minimum of 6.5 star NatHERS rating for each dwelling.

Waste and Resource Recovery

  • Must provide waste and resource recovery facilities that meet the requirements of the City of Melbourne’s Guidelines for Waste Management Plans.
  • Must meet the requirements of a precinct waste management plan, if there is one in place.

Urban Heat Island Response

  • Must provide the equivalent of at least 75% of the development’s total site area as building or landscape elements that reduce the impact of the urban heat island effect.

Urban Ecology

  • Must be designed and constructed to achieve a minimum Green Factor score of 0.55 using City of Melbourne’s Green Factor Tool.

Integrated water management

  • Must achieve the best practice water quality performance objectives set out in the Urban Stormwater Best Practice Environmental Management Guidelines, CSIRO 1999.
  • Must connect to a precinct scale recycled water source if available.
  • Unless connected to a recycled water source, must install a rainwater tank to support on-site green cover or supply a minimum of 10% of internal water demand.
  • Should meet the relevant Water credit under 5 Star Green Star Buildings.

Sustainable Transport in the Capital City and Docklands zones

  • Rates for car share, bicycle and motorcycle parking, and provision for electric vehicles.

Image: New building of more than 5,000sqm – non-residential


New Planning Policy

Consideration will need to be given to the following new planning policies:

  • Biodiversity and waterways (Cl02.03)
  • Sustainable development (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Sustainable transport (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Stormwater management - water sensitive urban design (Cl19.03)

Environmentally Sustainable Design

  • Should achieve 6 Star Green Star Buildings.
  • Must achieve 5 Star Green Star Buildings.

Energy Efficiency and Renewables

  • Should achieve a minimum 6 Star NABERS Energy rating.
  • Must achieve a minimum 5.5 Star NABERS Energy rating.

Waste and Resource Recovery

  • Must provide waste and resource recovery facilities that meet the requirements of the City of Melbourne’s Guidelines for Waste Management Plans.
  • Must meet the requirements of a precinct waste management plan, if there is one in place.

Urban Heat Island Response

  • Must provide the equivalent of at least 75% of the development’s total site area as building or landscape elements that reduce the impact of the urban heat island effect.

Urban Ecology

  • Must be designed and constructed to achieve a minimum Green Factor score of 0.55 using City of Melbourne’s Green Factor Tool.

Integrated water management

  • Must achieve the best practice water quality performance objectives set out in the Urban Stormwater Best Practice Environmental Management Guidelines, CSIRO 1999.
  • Must connect to a precinct scale recycled water source if available.
  • Unless connected to a recycled water source, must install a rainwater tank to support on-site green cover or supply a minimum of 10% of internal water demand.
  • Should meet a minimum 4 Star NABERS Water rating.

Sustainable Transport in the Capital City and Docklands zones

  • Rates for car share, bicycle and motorcycle parking, and provision for electric vehicles.

Alterations and additions of more than 1,000sqm

Most large alterations and additions which result in more than 1000 square metres additional gross floor area will be subject to mandatory and preferred building design standards and requirements.

Specific building design standards and requirements will only apply to large additions – those which result in more than 1000 square metres additional gross floor area. Most extensions to a single house result in less than 1,000sqm additional gross floor area, in which case the requirements would not apply.

The specific building design standards and requirements for large additions only apply where the works are for the following uses:

  • Accommodation, such as a house or apartments
  • Retail, such as shopping centres
  • Office
  • Education centre, such as schools and universities
  • Research and development centre
  • Place of assembly, such as function centres or museums

The standards required depend on the scale of proposed developments, as detailed below.

Please select the category of development below that best applies to you to view the key proposed C376 requirements. Please refer to the Amendment Documents to view the complete requirements.

‘Should’ indicates a discretionary requirement which may, in the appropriate circumstances, be varied. 'Must’ indicates a mandatory requirement.

Image: Addition between 1,000-5,000sqm – residential and non-residential


New Planning Policy

Consideration will need to be given to the following new planning policies:

  • Biodiversity and waterways (Cl02.03)
  • Sustainable development (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Sustainable transport (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Stormwater management - water sensitive urban design (Cl19.03)

Environmentally Sustainable Design

  • Should achieve a 70% BESS score.
  • Must achieve a 50% BESS score.

Energy Efficiency and Renewables

  • Should achieve minimum 70% score in the BESS Energy category and must achieve a minimum 60% score in the BESS Energy category.
  • Residential must also achieve an average of at least 7.5 star NatHERS rating across multiple dwellings, and a minimum of 6.5 star NatHERS rating for each dwelling.

Waste and Resource Recovery

  • Must provide waste and resource recovery facilities that meet the requirements of the City of Melbourne’s Guidelines for Waste Management Plans.
  • Must meet the requirements of a precinct waste management plan, if there is one in place.

Urban Heat Island Response

  • Must provide the equivalent of at least 75% of the development’s total site area as building or landscape elements that reduce the impact of the urban heat island effect.

Urban Ecology

  • Should be designed and constructed to achieve a minimum Green Factor score of 0.55 using City of Melbourne’s Green Factor Tool.

Integrated water management

  • Must achieve the best practice water quality performance objectives set out in the Urban Stormwater Best Practice Environmental Management Guidelines, CSIRO 1999.
  • Should connect to a precinct scale recycled water source if available.
  • Unless connected to a recycled water source should install a rainwater tank to support on-site green cover or supply a minimum of 10% of internal water demand.
  • A minimum 50% score in the BESS Water category.

Sustainable Transport in the Capital City and Docklands zones

  • Rates for car share, bicycle and motorcycle parking, and provision for electric vehicles.

Image: Addition of more than 5,000sqm – residential


New Planning Policy

Consideration will need to be given to the following new planning policies:

  • Biodiversity and waterways (Cl02.03)
  • Sustainable development (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Sustainable transport (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Stormwater management - water sensitive urban design (Cl19.03)

Environmentally Sustainable Design

  • Should achieve 6 Star Green Star Buildings.
  • Must achieve 5 Star Green Star Buildings.

Energy Efficiency and Renewables

  • Must achieve an average of at least 7.5 star NatHERS rating across multiple dwellings and a minimum of 6.5 star NatHERS rating for each dwellings.

Waste and Resource Recovery

  • Must provide waste and resource recovery facilities that meet the requirements of the City of Melbourne’s Guidelines for Waste Management Plans.
  • Must meet the requirements of a precinct waste management plan, if there is one in place.

Urban Heat Island Response

  • Must provide the equivalent of at least 75% of the development’s total site area as building or landscape elements that reduce the impact of the urban heat island effect.

Urban Ecology

  • Should be designed and constructed to achieve a minimum Green Factor score of 0.55 using City of Melbourne’s Green Factor Tool.

Integrated water management

  • Must achieve the best practice water quality performance objectives set out in the Urban Stormwater Best Practice Environmental Management Guidelines, CSIRO 1999.
  • Must connect to a precinct scale recycled water source if available.
  • Unless connected to a recycled water source, must install a rainwater tank to support on-site green cover or supply a minimum of 10% of internal water demand.
  • Should meet the relevant Water credit under 5 Star Green Star Buildings.

Sustainable Transport in the Capital City and Docklands zones

  • Rates for car share, bicycle and motorcycle parking, and provision for electric vehicles.

Image: Addition of more than 5,000sqm – non-residential


New Planning Policy

Consideration will need to be given to the following new planning policies:

  • Biodiversity and waterways (Cl02.03)
  • Sustainable development (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Sustainable transport (Cl02.03 and Cl15.01)
  • Stormwater management - water sensitive urban design (Cl19.03)

Environmentally Sustainable Design

  • Should achieve 6 Star Green Star Buildings.
  • Must achieve 5 Star Green Star Buildings.

Energy Efficiency and Renewables

  • Should achieve a minimum 6 Star NABERS Energy rating.
  • Must achieve a minimum 5.5 Star NABERS Energy rating.

Waste and Resource Recovery

  • Must provide waste and resource recovery facilities that meet the requirements of the City of Melbourne’s Guidelines for Waste Management Plans.
  • Must meet the requirements of a precinct waste management plan, if there is one in place.

Urban Heat Island Response

  • Must provide the equivalent of at least 75% of the development’s total site area as building or landscape elements that reduce the impact of the urban heat island effect.

Urban Ecology

  • Should be designed and constructed to achieve a minimum Green Factor score of 0.55 using City of Melbourne’s Green Factor Tool.

Integrated water management

  • Must achieve the best practice water quality performance objectives set out in the Urban Stormwater Best Practice Environmental Management Guidelines, CSIRO 1999.
  • Must connect to a precinct scale recycled water source if available.
  • Unless connected to a recycled water source, must install a rainwater tank to support on-site green cover or supply a minimum of 10% of internal water demand.
  • Should meet a minimum 4 Star NABERS Water rating.

Sustainable Transport in the Capital City and Docklands zones

  • Rates for car share, bicycle and motorcycle parking, and provision for electric vehicles.

Sustainable transport requirements in the Capital City Zone and Docklands Zone

Most developments in the Capital City Zone and Docklands Zone will be subject to sustainable transport requirements

Preferred sustainable transport requirements will apply for a planning application in the Capital City Zone and Docklands Zone to:

  • Meet bicycle, motorcycle and car share parking rates
  • Provide Electric Vehicle parking requirements and infrastructure
  • Ensure the design of car parking facilities meet certain requirements
  • Retain car parking in common ownership

Context about the new planning rules

The Sustainable Building Design planning rules are building design measures which have been prepared to address specific areas of environmental sustainability. An explanation of the specific standards and requirements is detailed in the boxes below. Please see the Amendment Documents to view the complete rules.

The planning rules will ensure that all applicable development supports the City of Melbourne’s sustainability and green infrastructure goals, which will ultimately help to tackle the climate and biodiversity emergency.

Buildings are the biggest contributor of carbon emissions in the City of Melbourne, accounting for 66 per cent of all emissions. By introducing new best-practice policy, standards and requirements into the planning scheme we will ensure that most development in the municipality responds to climate change.

The City of Melbourne’s 'Green Our City Strategic Action Plan, 2017-2021' identified the need for stronger environmentally sustainable design and green infrastructure measures to be included in the planning scheme.

In addition to this, in February 2020, the Future Melbourne Committee endorsed 10 priority actions in response to the climate and biodiversity emergency, including supporting an accelerated pathway to zero emissions by 2040. One of these actions was to ‘mandate greening and zero emissions buildings through the planning scheme’.

Climate change is already happening, which means that our buildings need to adapt by becoming greener, cooler and more resource efficient. Emissions must also be reduced to ensure that the City of Melbourne contributes to the global mitigation effort to stabilise the climate. The new planning rules seek to address both of these aspects of responding to climate change- which are often referred to as climate adaptation and climate mitigation respectively.

The planning rules have been developed through extensive research, analysis and alignment with the City of Melbourne’s strategic priorities.

The process of developing the policy, standards and requirements included identifying how development could meaningfully contribute to achieving the City of Melbourne’s sustainability and green infrastructure goals. This was then independently tested for technical and economic feasibility. An external advisory group, including industry stakeholders and government representatives, steered the work at key milestones. The new planning rules draw on industry-accepted established rating tools (Green Star, NatHERS, NABERs and BESS) as well as the award-winning Green Factor Tool which the City of Melbourne developed.

ESD Tools

There are many ESD tools that are used in the building industry. Amendment C376 requires applicants to make use of the following industry-recognised tools, depending on the development category:

  • Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) - Is the only dedicated tool in Victoria for assessing sustainable design at the planning permit stage. Built and maintained by local governments, for local governments, BESS is designed to assist development applicants and councils achieve sustainable design outcomes for the community.
  • Green Star Buildings - Green Star Buildings is Australia’s leading rating tool for new buildings and major refurbishments. The tool sets out the criteria that must be met to deliver healthy, resilient, and positive places for people and nature. It aims to meet current and future demands on the built environment with aspirational benchmarks for addressing the key issues of the next decade: Climate action, resource efficiency, and health and wellbeing.
  • National House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) - Provides energy ratings for new dwellings (including apartments). This is helping create energy efficient, resilient and comfortable homes for the future that cost less to run.
  • National Australian Built Environment Rating Scheme (NABERS) - Provides simple, reliable, and comparable sustainability measurement you can trust across building sectors like hotels, shopping centres, apartments, offices, data centres, and more.
  • Green Factor Tool – The City of Melbourne’s award-winning tool for measuring the green infrastructure credentials of a development.
  • Stormwater Treatment Objective Relative Measure (STORM) - STORM is a method of simplifying the analysis of stormwater treatment methods. The STORM calculator is designed for the general public to easily assess Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) measures on their property.
  • Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation (MUSIC) - MUSIC can model a wide range of treatment devices to identify the best way to capture and reuse stormwater runoff, remove its contaminants, as well as reduce runoff frequency. With MUSIC you can evaluate these treatment devices to achieve WSUD and integrated water cycle management (IWCM) goals.

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Amendment C376: Sustainable Building Design