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Sheds, carports and garages in Brisbane — do you need approval?

Brisbane City Council's planning scheme — the Brisbane City Plan 2014 — decides whether a shed, carport or garage 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 shed, carport or garage for your house is accepted development with no planning approval needed unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still 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 (a domestic outbuilding). Residential zones first.

ZoneWhat the table saysConditionsWhat you'll need
Low density residential zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A shed, carport or garage for your house is accepted development with no planning approval needed unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still required. Building approval (private certifier)
Low-medium density residential zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted development with no planning approval needed unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still required. Building approval (private certifier)
Medium density residential zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted development with no planning approval needed unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still required. Building approval (private certifier)
High density residential zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted development with no planning approval needed unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still required. Building approval (private certifier)
Character residential zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted building work needing no planning development application unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still required. Building approval (private certifier)
Tourist accommodation zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted building work needing no planning development application unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still required. Building approval (private certifier)
Rural residential zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted and needs no planning development application unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still required. Building approval (private certifier)
Township zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted and needs no planning development application unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still required. Building approval (private certifier)
Emerging community zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed or carport is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though you still need a building approval. Building approval (private certifier)
Community facilities zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed or carport is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though you still need a building approval. Building approval (private certifier)
Conservation zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though a building approval under the Building Act is still needed. Building approval (private certifier)
District centre zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed or carport is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though you still need a building approval under the Building Act. Building approval (private certifier)
Environmental management zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though a building approval under the Building Act is still needed. Building approval (private certifier)
Extractive industry zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed or carport is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though you still need a building approval. Building approval (private certifier)
Industry investigation zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still needed. Building approval (private certifier)
Industry zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still needed. Building approval (private certifier)
Low impact industry zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still needed. Building approval (private certifier)
Major centre zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted building work needing no planning development application unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still required. Building approval (private certifier)
Mixed use zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed or carport is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though you still need a building approval under the Building Act. Building approval (private certifier)
Neighbourhood centre zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed or carport is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though you still need a building approval under the Building Act. Building approval (private certifier)
Open space zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though a building approval under the Building Act is still needed. Building approval (private certifier)
Principal centre zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted building work needing no planning development application unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still required. Building approval (private certifier)
Rural zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed or carport is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though you still need a building approval. Building approval (private certifier)
Special industry zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still needed. Building approval (private certifier)
Special purpose zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted and needs no planning development application unless an overlay applies, though a building approval is still required. Building approval (private certifier)
Specialised centre zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed or carport is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though you still need a building approval under the Building Act. Building approval (private certifier)
Sport and recreation zone No planning approval needed Table 5.7.1 A domestic shed, carport or garage is accepted building work unless an overlay applies, though a building approval under the Building Act is still needed. Building approval (private certifier)

Overlays that change the answer

  • Flood overlay. New dwelling house in a flood planning sub-category is accepted subject to requirements if it meets section A of the Flood overlay code, otherwise code assessable. Building work >25m² to an existing dwelling house, and most non-dwelling building/MCU/ROL in flood areas, become code assessable. (Table 5.10.11)
  • Coastal hazard overlay. New dwelling house and extensions are accepted subject to requirements if they meet the relevant section of the Coastal hazard overlay code, otherwise code assessable. ROL and filling/excavation become code assessable. (Table 5.10.6)
  • Waterway corridors overlay. New dwelling house, extensions, ancillary structures, pools/tennis courts between a building and the Brisbane River, and filling/excavation in a waterway corridor are accepted subject to requirements if they meet the code, otherwise code assessable. ROL becomes code assessable. (Table 5.10.25)
  • Landslide overlay. Building work / operational work / MCU involving excavation >1m deep & 3m long, filling >1m high, or >50m³ becomes accepted subject to requirements (if meeting the code) or code assessable. ROL becomes code assessable. (Table 5.10.14)
  • Potential and actual acid sulfate soils overlay. MCU / operational work involving filling or excavation below 20m AHD above stated thresholds becomes code assessable. (Table 5.10.15)

Worth knowing in Brisbane

Base-case categories are drawn from the zone MCU tables (5.5), the ROL table (5.6), the building work table (5.7) and operational work table (5.8). For building work (shed, carport, garage, extension, pool, fence, demolition) the default category is 'accepted development' unless the building work table or an overlay makes it assessable — a separate building approval under the Building Act is still required. Secondary dwellings (granny flats) are assessed under the 'Dwelling house' row because the QPP definition of Dwelling house includes a secondary dwelling; a secondary dwelling must still meet the Dwelling house code acceptable outcomes to be accepted. Subdivision minimums shown are the thresholds at which ROL becomes impact assessable; ROL that meets the minimum is generally code assessable, and subdividing 1 lot into 2 in a residential or industry zone is regulated code assessment under section 5.4 unless an overlay applies. Lot-size rules in several residential zones vary by precinct and proximity to centres/key locations — the numeric value given is the smallest/entry threshold and the note explains the variation. Many neighbourhood plans (section 5.9) change the category of assessment for MCU and/or ROL in specific precincts (e.g. Bridgeman Downs sets specific lot criteria, Darra-Oxley sets 1,000-2,000m² industrial minimums, Fortitude Valley special entertainment area changes licensed-premises categories) — always check the applicable neighbourhood plan. Where a use is not listed in a zone's MCU table, the default category is impact assessment ('any other use'). Where development is in more than one overlay, the highest category applies. State Vegetation Management Act and other State approvals are separate from the local scheme position shown for tree clearing.

What else you'll need

  • Building approval (private certifier)

More about Brisbane

Other projects in Brisbane

Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideExtensionPoolFence or wallHome businessTownhousesShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish

The statewide position on this project: Shed or carport in Queensland.

Read from the Brisbane City Plan 2014 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.