Do I need approval for a granny flat in the low density residential zone in Noosa?

No planning approval needed. Conditions: a dwelling house includes a secondary dwelling (granny flat) under the scheme's definitions; if complying with Schedule 6, Part 2 (2) of the Planning Regulation 2017; if not, accepted subject to the listed acceptable outcomes (code assessable where those aren't met). If those aren't met: accepted if you meet the requirements. (Source: Noosa Plan 2020, Table 5.5.1.)

Do I need approval for a granny flat in the medium density residential zone in Noosa?

Accepted if you meet the requirements. Conditions: a dwelling house includes a secondary dwelling (granny flat) under the scheme's definitions; if located on a lot with an area less than 500 m² and meeting the listed acceptable outcomes. If those aren't met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). (Source: Noosa Plan 2020, Table 5.5.2.)

Do I need approval for a granny flat in the high density residential zone in Noosa?

Accepted if you meet the requirements. Conditions: a dwelling house includes a secondary dwelling (granny flat) under the scheme's definitions; if located on a lot with an area less than 500 m² and meeting the listed acceptable outcomes. If those aren't met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). (Source: Noosa Plan 2020, Table 5.5.3.)

Granny flats in Noosa — do you need approval?

Noosa Shire Council's planning scheme — the Noosa Plan 2020 — 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 low density residential

No planning approval needed. A granny flat counts as part of a dwelling house, which needs no development application if it meets the Planning Regulation's standard dwelling house criteria, or otherwise if it meets the zone and Low Density Housing Code requirements (a code assessable application is needed if it can't).

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

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
Low Density Residential	No planning approval needed Table 5.5.1	a dwelling house includes a secondary dwelling (granny flat) under the scheme's definitions; if complying with Schedule 6, Part 2 (2) of the Planning Regulation 2017; if not, accepted subject to the listed acceptable outcomes (code assessable where those aren't met)If not met: accepted if you meet the requirements.	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: Low Density Residential Zone Code (AO4, AO5, AO7–AO21), Low Density Housing Code
Medium Density Residential	Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.2	a dwelling house includes a secondary dwelling (granny flat) under the scheme's definitions; if located on a lot with an area less than 500 m² and meeting the listed acceptable outcomesIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions).	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: Medium Density Residential Zone Code, Low Density Housing Code
High Density Residential	Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.3	a dwelling house includes a secondary dwelling (granny flat) under the scheme's definitions; if located on a lot with an area less than 500 m² and meeting the listed acceptable outcomesIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions).	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: High Density Residential Zone Code, Low Density Housing Code
Tourist Accommodation	No planning approval needed Table 5.5.4	a dwelling house includes a secondary dwelling (granny flat) under the scheme's definitions; if complying with Schedule 6, Part 2 (2) of the Planning Regulation 2017; if not, accepted subject to the listed acceptable outcomesIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements.	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: Tourist Accommodation Zone Code, Low Density Housing Code
Rural Residential	Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.14	a dwelling house includes a secondary dwelling (granny flat) under the scheme's definitions; meeting the listed acceptable outcomes of the Rural Residential Zone Code and Low Density Housing CodeIf not met: a development application with code assessment.	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: Rural Residential Zone Code (AO1.2, AO5, AO6.2, AO6.4, AO8, AO10, AO11), Low Density Housing Code
Community Facilities	Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.11	a dwelling house includes a secondary dwelling (granny flat) under the scheme's definitions; if complying with the criteria of Schedule 6, Part 2 (7D) of the Planning Regulation 2017; code assessable on Lot 206 K6575 (3 Grady Street, Kin Kin)If not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions).	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: Hinterland Villages Local Plan Code, Community Facilities Zone Code, Low Density Housing Code
District Centre	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.6	dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) is not a listed use in this zone	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Environmental Management and Conservation	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.15	dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) is not a listed use in this zone	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Innovation Zone	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.12	dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) is not a listed use in this zone	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Local Centre	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.7	dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) is not a listed use in this zone	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Low Impact Industry	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.9	dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) is not a listed use in this zone	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Major Centre	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.5	dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) is not a listed use in this zone	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Medium Impact Industry	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.10	dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) is not a listed use in this zone	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Neighbourhood Centre	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.8	dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) is not a listed use in this zone	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Recreation and Open Space	Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.16	dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) is not a listed use in this zone	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme
Rural	Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.13	a dwelling house includes a secondary dwelling (granny flat) under the scheme's definitions; meeting the listed acceptable outcomes of the Rural Zone Code and Low Density Housing CodeIf not met: a development application with code assessment.	Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: Rural Zone Code (AO7, AO8.3, AO8.4, AO10–AO13, AO15), Low Density Housing Code

Overlays that change the answer

Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay. A material change of use or building work becomes code assessable where it clears mapped biodiversity significance or riparian buffer vegetation or is on the riparian buffer part of the lot (not where inside an existing building, within an approved building envelope or exempt clearing). (Table 5.9.2 Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay)
Coastal Protection and Scenic Amenity Overlay. Within a coastal protection area, any material change of use or building work involving building work becomes code assessable against the Coastal Protection and Scenic Amenity Overlay Code; demolition work stays accepted. (Table 5.9.4 Coastal Protection and Scenic Amenity Overlay)
Heritage Overlay. For a local heritage place, new buildings or external building work become code assessable; in a character area, extensions or new buildings forward of the front building line or over 10 m², enclosing a front verandah, or changing front/side materials or front windows become code assessable against the Heritage Overlay Code. (Table 5.9.7 Heritage Overlay)

Worth knowing in Noosa

Noosa Plan 2020 (Amendment 3, effective 20 March 2026), Part 5. A material change of use is impact assessable unless the table says otherwise or the use isn't listed; reconfiguring a lot is code assessable in every zone (Table 5.6.1); building work and operational work are accepted unless the tables say otherwise. Noosa makes demolition or removal of any building code assessable in all zones (Table 5.7.1), unusually. Building work for a dwelling house or a Class 10 structure (shed, carport, pool, fence) is accepted subject to requirements in the Low, Medium and High Density Residential, Tourist Accommodation, Rural Residential and Rural zones; in all other zones building work is accepted only inside an existing building with no new buildings or expansion, otherwise code assessable. A building approval under the Building Act is still needed in all cases. Accepted development subject to requirements that doesn't meet the listed acceptable outcomes becomes code assessable (section 5.3.3). A dwelling house includes a secondary dwelling (granny flat); in the Medium and High Density Residential zones a dwelling house is only listed for lots under 500 m², so on bigger lots the 'any other use' impact row applies. Schedule 6, Part 2 of the Planning Regulation 2017 can make a dwelling house, community residence, home-based business or rooming accommodation accepted regardless of these tables. Precincts: the Major Centre (Noosa Junction Hospitality; Noosa Business Centre Showroom, Business Park, Retail, Village Mixed Use), District Centre (Mary/Thomas Street Health and Wellbeing, Doonella Street, Noosaville Mainstreet), Low Impact Industry (Lionel Donovan Drive Auto, Hofmann Drive, Factory Street, Kin Kin, Gateway West Makers) and Medium Impact Industry (Venture Drive Enterprise) zones have precinct tables that vary some uses; the 'Where not located in a Precinct' tables are empty on the ePlan, so the parent zone table applies outside precincts. The Major Centre page labels its own table 'Table 5.5.1' (a typo) — it is Table 5.5.5. Many rows are tied to named lots or streets (e.g. 99 Noosa Drive, Gympie Terrace, Hastings Street) — check the conditions. Where premises are in more than one zone or overlay, the highest category applies to the part affected. Operational work for a dwelling driveway is accepted subject to the Low Density Housing Code; excavation or filling over 10 m³ (residential and environmental zones) or 100 m³ (other zones) is code assessable. Vegetation clearing benchmarks sit in the Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Code; state Vegetation Management Act rules apply separately.

What else you'll need

Building approval
Plumbing approval

More about Noosa

Other projects in Noosa

Dual occupancy 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: Granny flat in Queensland.

Read from the Noosa Plan 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.