Do I need approval for a dual occupancy in the general residential zone zone in Central Highlands?

Accepted if you meet the requirements. Conditions: on a lot 800m² or greater (600m² or greater in the Medium density residential precinct). If those aren't met: a development application with code assessment. (Source: Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 (Amendment No. 7), Table 5.4.2.)

Do I need approval for a dual occupancy in the high density residential zone zone in Central Highlands?

Needs a development application (code assessment). Conditions: forming part of a mixed use building. If those aren't met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). (Source: Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 (Amendment No. 7), Table 5.4.3.)

Do I need approval for a dual occupancy in the rural residential zone zone in Central Highlands?

Needs a development application (code assessment). Two homes on one lot are code assessable in this zone, so you need a development application. (Source: Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 (Amendment No. 7), Table 5.4.1.)

Dual occupancy in Central Highlands — do you need approval?

Central Highlands Regional Council's planning scheme — the Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 (Amendment No. 7) — decides whether a dual occupancy needs a development application, and the answer depends on the zone your property is in. Below is what its table of assessment says for each zone; or check your own address.

In a general residential zone

Accepted if you meet the requirements. Two homes on one lot are accepted if your lot meets the minimum size, otherwise you need a development application for code assessment.

1. Where is the property? (optional — it makes the answer specific)

I don't know my zone — choose my council instead

Council Zone

The zone is on your rates notice, or a Landbrief site report will find it for you.

Zone by zone

Dual occupancy. Residential zones first.

Zone	What the table says	Conditions	What you'll need
General residential zone	Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.2	on a lot 800m² or greater (600m² or greater in the Medium density residential precinct)If not met: a development application with code assessment.	Building approvalAssessed against: Dual occupancy code
High density residential zone	Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.3	forming part of a mixed use buildingIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions).	Building approvalAssessed against: High density residential zone code, Multi-unit residential uses code, Landscaping code, Transport, parking and access code, Works, services and infrastructure (development design) code
Rural residential zone	Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.1	Two homes on one lot are code assessable in this zone, so you need a development application.	Building approvalAssessed against: Dual occupancy code
Emerging community zone	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.4	A dual occupancy is not listed in this zone so falls under the 'all other uses' impact assessment row, requiring a development application that is publicly notified.	Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Township zone	Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.17	Building two homes on one lot in the Township zone needs a code-assessable development application.	Building approvalAssessed against: Dual occupancy code
Centre zone	Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.6	if forming part of a mixed use buildingIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions).	Building approvalAssessed against: Centre zone code, Landscaping code, Multi-unit residential uses code, Transport, parking and access code, Works, services and infrastructure (development design) code
Community facilities zone	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.15	Dual occupancy is not listed in this zone, so it defaults to an impact-assessable development application.	Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Environmental management and conservation zone	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.13	Dual occupancy is not listed in this zone, so it defaults to an impact-assessable development application.	Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Industry investigation zone	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.12	Dual occupancy is not listed in the Industry investigation zone, so it defaults to impact assessment and needs a development application.	Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Industry zone	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.10	Dual occupancy is not listed in the Industry zone, so it defaults to impact assessment and needs a development application.	Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Low impact industry zone	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.9	Two homes on one lot are not listed in this industrial zone, so this falls under 'all other uses' requiring an impact-assessable development application.	Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Neighbourhood centre zone	Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.5	if forming part of a mixed use buildingIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions).	Building approvalAssessed against: Neighbourhood centre zone code, Multi-unit residential uses code, Transport, parking and access code, Landscaping code, Works, services and infrastructure (development design) code
Principal centre zone	Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.7	if forming part of a mixed use buildingIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions).	Building approvalAssessed against: Principal centre zone code, Landscaping code, Multi-unit residential uses code, Transport, parking and access code, Works, services and infrastructure (development design) code
Recreation and open space zone	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.14	Dual occupancy is not listed in this zone, so it defaults to an impact-assessable development application.	Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Rural zone	Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.16	A dual occupancy in the Rural zone is code assessable, so you need a development application assessed against the codes.	Building approvalAssessed against: Rural zone code, Dual occupancy code, Transport, parking and access code, Works, services and infrastructure (development design) code
Special industry zone	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.11	Dual occupancy is not listed in the Special industry zone, so it defaults to impact assessment and needs a development application.	Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Specialised centre zone	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.8	A dual occupancy is not listed in the Specialised centre zone, so it falls under 'all other uses' and needs an impact-assessable development application.	Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme

Overlays that change the answer

Flood hazard overlay. Within a flood risk category the category of development can change. A dwelling house (incl. secondary dwelling) material change of use / building work in the Balance Flood Risk Category is accepted only where the habitable floor is at least 300mm above natural ground level and no filling is involved; in the Low Risk Flood Category dwelling house / dwelling unit / dual occupancy / home based business is accepted only where habitable floor is at least Defined Flood Event + 300mm and no filling. Building work in Medium/High/Very High flood risk categories becomes code assessable. Reconfiguring a lot in any flood risk category is code assessable. Multiple dwelling (townhouses) in Medium/High/Very High flood risk categories becomes impact assessable. Otherwise code assessable unless accepted conditions met. (Table 5.8.1 Overlays — Flood hazard overlay)
Bushfire hazard overlay. Where within a medium, high, very high or potential impact buffer bushfire hazard area, building work involving a dwelling house, a listed material change of use (accommodation, business, industry, community, recreation activity groups) and reconfiguring a lot must be assessed against the Bushfire hazard overlay code (no change to category but overlay code applies as accepted requirements). (Table 5.8.1 Overlays — Bushfire hazard overlay)
Airport environs overlay. Within the OLS, runway separation distances, ANEF contours or public safety area, a listed material change of use that would otherwise be accepted or accepted subject to requirements becomes code assessable against the Airport environs overlay code. Mainly affects accommodation, business, industry, community and recreation uses; reconfiguring a lot may also be subject to the overlay code. (Table 5.8.1 Overlays — Airport environs overlay)
Extractive and mineral resources overlay. No change to category, but within a resource/processing, separation or transport route separation area listed material changes of use and reconfiguring a lot must be assessed against the Extractive resources overlay code (dwelling house on an existing lot and home-based business generally exempt). (Table 5.8.1 Overlays — Extractive and mineral resources overlay)
Regional infrastructure overlay. No change to category, but within electricity infrastructure, wastewater/waste/road/rail/gas buffers or stock routes, listed material changes of use and reconfiguring a lot (often increasing lot numbers or involving sensitive land uses) must be assessed against the Regional infrastructure overlay code (home-based business generally exempt). (Table 5.8.1 Overlays — Regional infrastructure overlay)

Worth knowing in Central Highlands

Minimum lot sizes, frontages and rectangular developable areas for each zone are set in Table 8.4.3.3.2 (Minimum lot size and dimensions), which was not reproduced in the supplied material, so numeric minimums could not be captured; the Reconfiguring a lot code (section 8.4.3) and Table 8.2.2 govern subdivision of one lot into two. Under the Regulation, subdivision of one lot into two lots is always code assessable (Schedule 10). The Rural zone contains Gemfields Core, Gemfields Frame and Gemfields Balance precincts which materially change the category of assessment for many uses (e.g. dwelling unit, shop, office, food and drink outlet, community uses) — owners in those precincts should check precinct-specific rows. Building work for a dwelling house and Class 10a outbuildings is generally accepted or accepted subject to requirements across all zones (and fully accepted for Class 10a in the Rural zone outside the Gemfields precincts); a building approval under the Building Act 1975 is still required separately. Development that is accepted does not need a development application. Home-based business is accepted subject to requirements in most zones provided it is not a high impact home-based business activity. Where a use is not listed for a zone the 'all other uses / undefined use' row applies, making it impact assessable. Overlay effects apply only to the part of the premises affected, and the highest applicable category prevails where zone and overlay differ. State Vegetation Management Act clearing controls operate separately from the scheme's operational work provisions.

What else you'll need

Building approval

More about Central Highlands

Other projects in Central Highlands

Granny flat Subdivide Shed or carport Extension Pool Fence or wall Home business Townhouses Shop, café or office Clear trees Demolish

The statewide position on this project: Dual occupancy in Queensland.

Read from the Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 (Amendment No. 7) tables of assessment. General information, not advice. The council's planning scheme and the Planning Act 2016 decide — confirm with the council or a town planner before you build.