Granny flats in Redland — do you need approval?
Redland City Council's planning scheme — the Redland City Plan 2018 — 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 zone
No planning approval needed. A secondary dwelling (granny flat) is treated as part of a dwelling house and needs no development application unless the land is in precincts LDR1 to LDR5, where it must meet the zone code 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low density residential zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.1 | if not in precincts LDR1-LDR5If not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: Low density residential zone code |
| Low-medium density residential zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.2 | A secondary dwelling (granny flat) is treated as part of a dwelling house, which is accepted development in this zone and needs no development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approval |
| Medium density residential zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.3 | A secondary dwelling (granny flat) is treated as part of a dwelling house, which is accepted development in this zone and needs no development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approval |
| Character residential zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.5 | A secondary dwelling (granny flat) is treated as part of a dwelling house, which is accepted development in this zone and needs no development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approval |
| Emerging community zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.21 | if no more than one dwelling of any kind on the lot (a house with a secondary dwelling still counts as one dwelling)If not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Building approval; Plumbing approval |
| Tourist accommodation zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.6 | A house (including a granny flat as part of it) is accepted in this zone, so no development application is needed for that use, though a building approval is still required. | Building approval; Plumbing approval |
| Community facilities zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.20 | A dwelling house (including a granny flat) is not a listed use in the community facilities zone, so it falls under the default and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Conservation zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.15 | a dwelling house is not listed in this zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| District centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.9 | A dwelling house is not listed in this zone, so under the default row a secondary dwelling needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Environmental management zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.14 | if no more than one dwelling of any kind on the lot (a dwelling house with a secondary dwelling counts as one dwelling)If not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Building approval; Plumbing approval |
| Local centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.10 | A granny flat (secondary dwelling) is not listed in the Local centre zone table, so it falls under 'any other use' and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Low impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.16 | a dwelling house is not listed in this zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Major centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.8 | A dwelling house is not listed in this zone, so under the default row a secondary dwelling needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Medium impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.17 | a dwelling house is not listed in this zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Mixed use zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.19 | A dwelling house (including a granny flat) is not a listed use in the mixed use zone, so it falls under the default and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Neighbourhood centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.11 | A granny flat (secondary dwelling) is not listed in the Neighbourhood centre zone table, so it falls under 'any other use' and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Principal centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.7 | A dwelling house is not listed in this zone, so under the default row a secondary dwelling needs 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 5.4.13 | A granny flat (secondary dwelling) is not listed in the Recreation and open space zone table, so it falls under 'any other use' and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Rural zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.22 | a dwelling house (which may include a secondary dwelling) is accepted; a dwelling house with a secondary dwelling is still taken to be one dwelling | Building approval; Plumbing approval |
| Specialised centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.12 | A granny flat (secondary dwelling) is not listed in the Specialised centre zone table, so it falls under 'any other use' and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Waterfront and marine industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.18 | A dwelling house (including a granny flat) is not a listed use in this industrial zone, so it falls under the 'any other use' default and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approval; Plumbing approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
Overlays that change the answer
- Coastal protection (erosion prone areas) overlay. On land mapped as erosion prone, material change of use or building work for a dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling), dual occupancy or community residence becomes code assessable and must be assessed against the Coastal protection (erosion prone areas) overlay code. (5.9.1 Coastal protection (erosion prone areas) overlay)
- Flood and storm tide hazard overlay. On land mapped as drainage constrained, material change of use or building work for a dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) or community residence becomes code assessable and must be assessed against the Flood and storm tide hazard overlay code (may particularly affect Character residential and Environmental management zones on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands). (5.9.1 Flood and storm tide hazard overlay)
Worth knowing in Redland
The tables of assessment do not state numeric minimum lot sizes for reconfiguring a lot; the numeric minimums live in the Reconfiguring a lot code and individual zone codes (not reproduced here). Reconfiguring a lot is impact assessable in the Conservation, Environmental management, Character residential, Tourist accommodation and Rural zones, and in the Emerging community zone where any lot under 10ha is created; it is otherwise code assessable. Building work for a dwelling house (shed, pool, fence, extension, demolition) is generally accepted development under the planning scheme unless an overlay applies (see overlay_triggers) — but a building approval under the Building Act 1975 is still required, and dwelling-house building work in the Low density residential zone precincts LDR1–LDR5 (and dual occupancy/associated building work in LDR5) is accepted subject to requirements against the zone code. Secondary dwellings (granny flats) are treated as part of a 'dwelling house' under the QPP; a dwelling house containing a secondary dwelling still counts as one dwelling for assessment triggers in rural/emerging/environmental management/conservation zones. Where premises are in more than one zone or overlay, the highest category applies. The Transport noise corridor overlay is for information only (building work assessed under QDC Part 4.4). State Vegetation Management Act and Planning Regulation clearing exemptions operate separately from this scheme. There are no local plans in this scheme. Precinct variations (LDR1–5, MDR1–9, CF1–9) can change categories within a zone and should be checked against the relevant zone map.
What else you'll need
- Building approval
- Plumbing approval
More about Redland
- What can you build in Redland? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Redland City Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Redland address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Cleveland
- Development applications in Redland Bay
- Development applications in Birkdale
- Development applications in Capalaba
- Development applications in Wellington Point
- Development applications in Alexandra Hills
- Development applications in Thornlands
- Development applications in Victoria Point
Other projects in Redland
Dual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallHome businessTownhousesShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Granny flat in Queensland.
Read from the Redland City Plan 2018 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.