The current Victorian leaders are not the growth corridors. They are Bayside, Boroondara, Stonnington and Yarra.

As of 7 April 2026, DA Leads tracks 737 renovation and extension DAs in Victoria. The top eight councils account for 456 of them, or 61.9% of the state's renovation pipeline. If you want to target renovation work in Victoria, start there.

Victorian renovation streetscape in an established Melbourne suburb

Victorian renovation streetscape: a conceptual editorial image of established-suburb renovation demand in Melbourne and the inner bayside belt. Source: DA Leads editorial illustration informed by Victoria renovation DA patterns in the current internal database snapshot.

The Current Top Eight

Council	Renovation DAs	Share of VIC renovation DAs
Bayside City Council	94	12.8%
Boroondara City Council	79	10.7%
City of Stonnington	57	7.7%
City of Yarra	56	7.6%
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council	48	6.5%
Melbourne City Council	48	6.5%
City of Glen Eira	45	6.1%
City of Port Phillip	29	3.9%

That list tells a much clearer story than the old "outer growth equals more work" assumption. Victoria's renovation pipeline is currently led by established municipalities with older housing stock, higher-value alterations, or both. Our guide to understanding planning zones in Victoria explains how overlays shape what gets approved in these areas.

What the Ranking Says

1. Bayside and the inner east are carrying the market

Bayside and Boroondara alone contribute 173 renovation DAs. Add Stonnington, Yarra and Glen Eira, and the inner-bayside to inner-east belt becomes the core of the Victorian renovation pipeline in this snapshot.

These councils are not just busy. They usually represent projects where quoting, design coordination and permit sensitivity matter. If your work improves with larger budgets and more selective clients, this is where the data points first.

2. The growth corridor story is weaker than many builders assume

The current renovation numbers for the major growth-corridor councils are much lower than the established-suburb leaders. Casey has 16 renovation DAs in the current snapshot, Wyndham has 1, and Melton has 0.

There is still work in those areas. It means the visible planning pipeline there is still being led by new dwellings and estate-led construction, not renovation-heavy homeowner activity.

3. Mornington Peninsula belongs in the shortlist

Mornington Peninsula sits level with Melbourne City Council on 48 renovation DAs. Enough volume to treat it as a real lane, not an edge case.

If your business can cover the coast and you are set up for larger alterations, extensions, or premium outdoor projects, it is worth tracking separately from inner Melbourne.

How to Use This as a Tradie

Trade posture	Councils to watch first	Why
Premium renovator	Bayside, Boroondara, Stonnington	Highest counts and more design-sensitive projects
Extension-focused builder	Glen Eira, Port Phillip, Yarra	Dense established housing and steady permit flow
Coastal / outdoor project specialist	Mornington Peninsula, Bayside	Strong overlap with larger homes, outdoor works, and lifestyle upgrades

The simplest operating model is to choose two core councils and one spillover council. Watch them weekly, quote fast, and build local proof. For a step-by-step approach to evaluating sites in these councils, see our guide to assessing development sites in Melbourne.

Key takeaway: Victoria's renovation pipeline is led by established municipalities, not growth corridors. Bayside and Boroondara alone contribute 173 renovation DAs, while Casey has 16, Wyndham has 1, and Melton has 0.

Browse renovation leads on DA Leads to see what's happening in your target councils right now.