Free check · Queensland
Do I need council approval?
Tell us where the property is and what you want to do. We'll say whether you need a development application — the plans a council assesses before you build — and what else you'll need, from the council's own planning scheme where we've read it, and from the Queensland Planning Regulation 2017 everywhere else.
I don't know my zone — choose my council instead
The zone is on your rates notice, or a Landbrief site report will find it for you.
2. What do you want to do?
How to read the answer
- No planning approval needed
- The scheme calls it accepted development. You still need a building approval for most building work.
- Accepted if you meet the requirements
- No development application, as long as the build meets the scheme's stated requirements — height, setbacks, site cover.
- Needs a development application
- Code assessment is the lighter kind: the council checks it against a set of rules. Impact assessment is the heavier kind: it is publicly notified and neighbours can make submissions.
A planning approval and a building approval are different things. The first is the council's decision under the planning scheme; the second is a certifier checking the structure under the building rules. Many projects need only the second.
Councils we've read in full
For these councils the answer comes straight from the planning scheme's table of assessment, zone by zone.
Banana Shire Council · Banana Shire Planning Scheme 2021
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Brisbane City Council · Brisbane City Plan 2014
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Bundaberg Regional Council · Bundaberg Regional Council Planning Scheme 2015
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Cairns Regional Council · CairnsPlan 2016
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Central Highlands Regional Council · Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 (Amendment No. 7)
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
City of Gold Coast · Gold Coast City Plan (City Plan) — Part 5 Tables of assessment (v14, 2026-09-29)
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
City of Moreton Bay · Moreton Bay Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 (Version 8, 2026-09-11)
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Fraser Coast Regional Council · Fraser Coast Planning Scheme 2014 (Version 11)
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Gladstone Regional Council · Gladstone Regional Council Planning Scheme (Version 2.1)
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Ipswich City Council · Ipswich City Plan 2025
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Livingstone Shire Council · Livingstone Planning Scheme 2018
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Logan City Council · Logan Planning Scheme 2015 (version 9.2, with TLPI No. 1/2024)
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Mackay Regional Council · Mackay Region Planning Scheme 2017
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Noosa Shire Council · Noosa Plan 2020
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Redland City Council · Redland City Plan 2018
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Rockhampton Regional Council · Rockhampton Region Planning Scheme 2015 (Version 5, 2025-03-28)
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Scenic Rim Regional Council · Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Sunshine Coast Council · Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 (Amendment 27)
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Toowoomba Regional Council · Toowoomba Regional Planning Scheme 2012 (Version 29)
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Townsville City Council · Townsville City Plan
Secondary dwelling (granny flat)Dual occupancy (two homes on one lot)Subdivide the landShed, carport or garageExtend or renovate the houseSwimming poolFence or retaining wallRun a business from homeTownhouses or unitsShop, café or officeClear trees or vegetationDemolish a building
Every other Queensland council gets the general statewide position, clearly labelled — we add councils as we read their schemes.