Dividing Land?

Land Division FAQs

Land divisions can be time-consuming, complex, and expensive. It requires a significant amount of planning and a fair understanding of property law. Property investors and developers will generally consult with both a solicitor and conveyancer to achieve their goals.

For an official and detailed look at the land division process, please refer to this fact sheet.

What are the types of land division?

Torrens Title

A Torrens Title land division is the division of land into at least two allotments, which are held independently of one another. There are generally no shared facilities of infrastructure.

Community Title

A Community Title is the division of land, but which has an area of common property. An example of common property includes a shared driveway.

Community Strata Title

A Community Strata Title has one lot existing above another, with the lot boundaries defined by reference to parts of the building. The structure itself forms part of the common property and thus the responsibility of the corporation to maintain and insure it.

How do I divide residential land in Adelaide?

Firstly, you will need to prepare a basic plan of how you wish to divide your land. You should contact the relevant Council about any planning requirements to determine if a division is possible. You may use the SA Property and Planning Atlas to help you in preparing your plan.

We recommend that you engage a conveyancer early, who could help you source a surveyor to identify boundaries and easements of the land too.

The conveyancer or surveyor will prepare the Development Application and lodge the proposed plan with the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) for approval.

While we recommend engaging a professional, please refer to this page from the Government of South Australia if you are looking to take on land division yourself.

How much does land division cost?

In addition to the professional fees associated with engaging either a conveyancer, solicitor, or surveyor, there are fees payable to various government bodies. These may include SCAP fees, Land Services SA fees, and SA Water fees.

An approximate cost to divide an existing property into 2 Allotments is around $30,000 to $35,000.