Granny flats in Moreton Bay — do you need approval?
City of Moreton Bay's planning scheme — the Moreton Bay Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 (Version 8, 2026-09-11) — decides whether a granny flat 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. A secondary dwelling is part of a Dwelling house, which is accepted subject to requirements, or code-assessable if it fails the value and constraint requirements.
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
Dwelling house (a secondary dwelling is part of a dwelling house — Planning Regulation 2017, Schedule 24). Residential zones first.
| Zone | What the table says | Conditions | What you'll need |
|---|---|---|---|
| General residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.6 | if a Dwelling house complying with the relevant requirements for accepted developmentIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: 9.3.1 Dwelling house code |
| Emerging community zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.3.1.1 | Interim precinct: Dwelling house accepted subject to requirements if not otherwise specified; Transition developed lot: accepted subject to requirements if complying with Dwelling house code requirementsIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: 6.2.3 Emerging community zone code, 9.3.1 Dwelling house code |
| Rural residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.11.1 | if not otherwise specified (temporary use is accepted)If not met: no planning approval needed. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: 6.2.11 Rural residential zone code |
| Township zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.12.3.1 | in the Township residential precinct, in all instances (other precincts vary) | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: 6.2.12 Township zone code (Part E) |
| Centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.1.1.1 | A secondary dwelling (granny flat) is not listed as a dwelling house use in the Centre zone, so it falls under the default 'any other use' row and needs an impact-assessed development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Community facilities zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.2.1.1 | Dwelling house is accepted subject to requirements in all instances | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: 6.2.2 Community facilities zone code (relevant precinct only) |
| Environmental management and conservation zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.4.1 | A dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) is not listed in this zone, so it falls under the default 'any other use' row and needs an impact-assessed development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Extractive industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.5.1 | A granny flat (secondary dwelling) is not listed for the Extractive industry zone, so it falls into the 'any other use' default needing an impact-assessable development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.7 | A granny flat (secondary dwelling) is not listed in the Industry zone, so it defaults to an impact-assessable development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Limited development zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.8 | A granny flat (secondary dwelling) is not listed in the Limited development zone, so it defaults to an impact-assessable development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Recreation and open space zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.9.1 | a dwelling house/secondary dwelling is not listed for this zone | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Rural zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.10.1 | if not otherwise specified (temporary use is accepted)If not met: no planning approval needed. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: 6.2.10 Rural zone code |
Overlays that change the answer
- Coastal hazard overlay. In the Erosion Prone Area, Medium risk storm tide inundation area, or High risk storm tide inundation area a dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) can become code assessable instead of accepted. Building work not associated with a material change of use stays as-is ('no change') if in the Balance coastal planning area, or in the Erosion Prone Area and not increasing gross floor area by more than 50m2; it becomes code assessable if in the Erosion Prone Area and increasing GFA by more than 50m2, or in a High/Medium risk storm tide inundation area, and impact assessable in the High risk area within the Limited development zone. Reconfiguring a lot by subdividing is assessed against the Coastal hazard overlay code. Filling/excavation can become code or impact assessable. (5.10.1 Coastal hazard overlay, Table 5.10.1.1)
- Flood hazard overlay. A dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) is code assessable in the High risk area, Medium risk area and Drainage investigation area (unless already impact assessable in the zone). Building work not associated with a material change of use is 'no change' in the Balance flood planning area, code assessable in the High risk area (not in Limited development zone), Medium risk area or Drainage investigation area, and impact assessable in the High risk area within the Limited development zone. Reconfiguring a lot by subdividing is code assessable (Flood hazard overlay code) or impact assessable in a Drainage investigation area. Filling/excavation can become code or impact assessable. (5.10.2 Flood hazard overlay, Table 5.10.2.1)
Worth knowing in Moreton Bay
The planning scheme's tables of assessment do not state numeric minimum lot sizes for reconfiguring a lot in any zone — the minimum lot size (and frontage) is set by the applicable 9.4.1 'Reconfiguring a lot code' for the relevant zone/precinct and the zone code, which are not reproduced in the Part 5 tables provided here. All reconfiguring a lot is code assessable 'if not otherwise specified' (impact assessment is the catch-all for anything not meeting the code's criteria). Separate state rules apply: Schedule 12 of the Planning Regulation makes reconfiguring a lot in Residential and Industry zones code assessable against the Schedule 12 benchmarks; a building approval under the Building Act is still required for building work even where the planning scheme treats it as accepted development; and the Vegetation Management Act may separately regulate clearing of native vegetation. Several zones are divided into precincts that materially change the answer for some projects — notably the Emerging community zone (Interim precinct vs Transition precinct developable lot vs developed lot, the latter mirroring the General residential Next generation neighbourhood precinct), the Community facilities zone precincts (where a Dwelling house is accepted subject to requirements and is NOT assessed under the Dwelling house code), and the Township zone precincts. In the Rural zone and Rural residential zone a Dwelling house is accepted development subject to requirements assessed under the relevant zone code (not the Dwelling house code). The Redcliffe Kippa-Ring local plan and Caboolture West local plan replace the base zone tables for land within those local plan areas and can change the category of development (e.g. in Caboolture West's Urban living precinct reconfiguring is impact assessable unless within an approved Neighbourhood Development Plan). Where more than one overlay applies, the highest category of assessment applies.
What else you'll need
- Building approval
- Plumbing approval
More about Moreton Bay
- What can you build in Moreton Bay? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What City of Moreton Bay charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Moreton Bay address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
Other projects in Moreton Bay
Dual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallHome businessTownhousesShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Granny flat in Queensland.
Read from the Moreton Bay Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 (Version 8, 2026-09-11) 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.