landbrief.

Home extensions and renovations in Scenic Rim — do you need approval?

Scenic Rim Regional Council's planning scheme — the Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020 — decides whether an extension 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 low density residential zone

No planning approval needed. The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending the house needs no planning approval (a Building Act approval may still be required).

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.

Zone by zone

Building work for a dwelling house. Residential zones first.

ZoneWhat the table saysConditionsWhat you'll need
Low Density Residential Zone No planning approval needed Section 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending the house needs no planning approval (a Building Act approval may still be required). Building approval
Low-medium Density Residential Zone No planning approval needed Section 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending the house needs no planning approval (a Building Act approval may still be required). Building approval
Emerging Community Zone No planning approval needed 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending or renovating the house needs no planning development application (a Building Act approval may still be required, and overlays may change this). Building approval
Rural Residential Zone - (Where no precinct applies) No planning approval needed 5.7 Extending a house is building work not regulated by the planning scheme, so no planning approval is needed (a building permit may still apply). Building approval
Rural Residential Zone - Rural Residential A Precinct No planning approval needed 5.7 Extending or renovating your house needs no planning development application because the scheme regulates no building work, though a building approval is still required. Building approval
Township Zone - (Where no precinct applies) No planning approval needed Section 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending your house needs no planning development application (a building approval under the Building Act may still be required). Building approval
Township Zone - Township Residential Precinct No planning approval needed Section 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending the house needs no planning development application, though a building approval under the Building Act is still required. Building approval
Community Facilities Zone No planning approval needed 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending or renovating the house needs no planning development application (a Building Act approval may still be required, and overlays may change this). Building approval
Conservation Zone No planning approval needed 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending or renovating the house needs no planning development application (a Building Act approval may still be required, and overlays may change this). Building approval
District Centre Zone No planning approval needed 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending or renovating the house needs no planning development application (a Building Act approval may still be required, and overlays may change this). Building approval
Industry Zone No planning approval needed Section 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending a house needs no planning approval (a building approval is still required). Building approval
Limited Development Zone - (Where no precinct applies) No planning approval needed Section 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending a house needs no planning approval (a building approval is still required). Building approval
Limited Development Zone - Flood Land Precinct No planning approval needed Section 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending a house needs no planning approval (a building approval is still required and flood overlay requirements may apply). Building approval
Limited Development Zone - Historical Subdivision Precinct No planning approval needed Section 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending a house needs no planning approval (a building approval is still required). Building approval
Local Centre Zone No planning approval needed Section 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending the house needs no planning approval (a Building Act approval may still be required). Building approval
Major Centre Zone No planning approval needed Section 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending the house needs no planning approval (a Building Act approval may still be required). Building approval
Major Tourism Zone No planning approval needed 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending the house needs no planning development application (a building approval under the Building Act may still be required). Building approval
Minor Tourism Zone No planning approval needed 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending the house needs no planning development application (a building approval under the Building Act may still be required). Building approval
Mixed Use Zone No planning approval needed 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending the house needs no planning development application (a building approval under the Building Act may still be required). Building approval
Mixed Use Zone - Commercial Industry Precinct No planning approval needed 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending a building needs no planning development application (a building approval under the Building Act may still be required). Building approval
Neighbourhood Centre Zone No planning approval needed 5.7 Building work such as extending a house is not regulated by the planning scheme, so no planning approval is needed (a building permit may still apply). Building approval
Recreation and Open Space Zone - (Where no precinct applies) No planning approval needed 5.7 Extending a house is building work not regulated by the planning scheme, so no planning approval is needed (a building permit may still apply). Building approval
Recreation and Open Space Zone - Passive Recreation Precinct No planning approval needed 5.7 Extending a house is building work not regulated by the planning scheme, so no planning approval is needed (a building permit may still apply). Building approval
Rural Zone - (Where no precinct applies) No planning approval needed 5.7 Extending or renovating your house needs no planning development application because the scheme regulates no building work, though a building approval is still required. Building approval
Rural Zone - Rural Escarpment Protection Precinct No planning approval needed 5.7 Extending or renovating your house needs no planning development application because the scheme regulates no building work, though a building approval is still required. Building approval
Rural Zone - Tamborine Mountain Rural Precinct No planning approval needed 5.7 Extending or renovating your house needs no planning development application because the scheme regulates no building work, though a building approval is still required. Building approval
Special Purpose Zone - (Where no precinct applies) No planning approval needed Section 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending your house needs no planning development application (a building approval under the Building Act may still be required). Building approval
Special Purpose Zone - Bromelton State Development Area Precinct No planning approval needed Section 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending your house needs no planning development application (a building approval under the Building Act may still be required). Building approval
Special Purpose Zone - Bulk Water Storage Facilities Precinct No planning approval needed Section 5.7 The planning scheme does not regulate building work, so extending your house needs no planning development application (a building approval under the Building Act may still be required). Building approval

Overlays that change the answer

  • Airport Environs and Defence Land Overlay (OM-02). Building work and material change of use in the Height Restriction Zone, Wildlife Buffer Area or Building Restricted Area become Accepted subject to requirements against the Airport Environs and Defence Land Overlay Code; other uses in the Defence Land Buffer Area and reconfiguring a lot become code assessable. (5.10 Airport Environs and Defence Land Overlay Map OM-02)
  • Flood Hazard Overlay (OM-06-A). Only animal husbandry, cropping or roadside stall not involving building work stay accepted; any other use in a Flood Hazard Area (including a dwelling house) becomes code assessable against the Flood Hazard Overlay Code. Filling/excavation above the thresholds and non-exempt clearing are code assessable. Reconfiguring a lot is code assessable. (5.10 Flood Hazard Overlay Map - Hazard Area OM-06-A)
  • Local Heritage Overlay (OM-08). In a Local Heritage Place, material change of use, reconfiguring a lot, and building work or operational work not associated with an MCU all become code assessable against the Local Heritage Overlay Code (so renovations, outbuildings and demolition need a development application). (5.10 Local Heritage Overlay Map OM-08)

Worth knowing in Scenic Rim

Section 5.7 states there is no building work regulated by the planning scheme, so sheds/carports, extensions, pools, fences and demolition are not assessable development under the scheme in the base case (a Building Act approval from a building certifier is still required) — EXCEPT where an overlay changes this (e.g. Airport Environs, Local Heritage, Flood, Landslide/Steep Slope overlays can make building work Accepted subject to requirements or code assessable). Local utility uses are Accepted in every zone and under every overlay. For subdivision, the 'minimum lot size' noted is the threshold at which ROL is code assessable rather than impact assessable; Low Density and Low-medium Density Residential zones rely on the minimum average lot size in Table 9.4.6.3.2 (not reproduced here) and Rural Residential/Rural thresholds depend on identification on Minimum Lot Size Overlay Map OM-13. Dual occupancy lot-size thresholds differ by precinct and by reticulated sewerage connection (e.g. Township Zone 2000m² sewered / 8000m² unsewered accepted-subject-to-requirements). Precincts are treated as separate zone rows where the scheme publishes a separate table of assessment. Transport Noise Corridor (OM-12), Minimum Lot Size (OM-13), Higher Order Road (OM-14), Road Hierarchy (OM-15), Flood Category Area (OM-6-B) and Streams and Dams (OM-10-B) overlays are information/administrative only and do not change the category of assessment.

What else you'll need

  • Building approval

More about Scenic Rim

Other projects in Scenic Rim

Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportPoolFence or wallHome businessTownhousesShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish

The statewide position on this project: Extension in Queensland.

Read from the Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020 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.