Glossary
Permeability
Written and verified by Struqt’s registered architects · Last verified July 2026
The share of the lot that must stay unsealed (lawn, garden, gravel) so rainwater can soak into the ground. Where a minimum applies, the zone or the local scheme sets it as a share of the site area: in Victoria, ResCode asks for at least 20% of the site unless the zone's schedule sets another figure. Not every zone sets one.
What it means for what you can build
Permeability rules reserve part of the lot for soft landscaping, which competes with footprint, driveways and paving when you're laying out a site.
Related terms
See this on your own property
Run any Australian address through Struqt to see whether permeability applies to your block, and what it means for what you can build.