Townhouses and units in Redland — do you need approval?
Redland City Council's planning scheme — the Redland City Plan 2018 — decides whether townhouses 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
Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions). Townhouses or units are not listed in the low density residential zone so they fall under the 'any other use' default of impact assessment, requiring a development application that the public can comment on.
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
Multiple dwelling. Residential zones first.
| Zone | What the table says | Conditions | What you'll need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low density residential zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.1 | multiple dwellings are not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Low-medium density residential zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.2 | building height is 8.5m or lessIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Building approvalAssessed against: Low-medium density residential zone code, Healthy waters code, Infrastructure works code, Landscape code, Transport, servicing, access and parking code |
| Medium density residential zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.3 | building storeys or height does not exceed the limits in Table 5.4.4If not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Building approvalAssessed against: Medium density residential zone code, Healthy waters code, Infrastructure works code, Landscape code, Transport, servicing, access and parking code |
| Character residential zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.5 | multiple dwellings are not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Emerging community zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.21 | Multiple dwellings (townhouses or units) are not listed in the emerging community zone, so they fall under the default and need an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Tourist accommodation zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.6 | If building height does not exceed 14mIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Building approvalAssessed against: Tourist accommodation zone code, Healthy waters code, Infrastructure works code, Landscape code, Transport, servicing, access and parking code |
| Community facilities zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.20 | Multiple dwellings (townhouses or units) are not listed in the community facilities zone, so they fall under the default and need an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Conservation zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.15 | multiple dwelling is not listed in this zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| District centre zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.9 | If building height does not exceed 17mIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Building approvalAssessed against: District centre zone code, Healthy waters code, Infrastructure works code, Landscape code, Transport, servicing, access and parking code |
| Environmental management zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.14 | multiple dwelling is not listed in this zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Local centre zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.10 | if building height does not exceed 10.5m (Multiple dwelling)If not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Building approvalAssessed against: Local centre zone code, Healthy waters code, Infrastructure works code, Landscape code, Transport, servicing, access and parking code |
| Low impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.16 | multiple dwelling is not listed in this zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Major centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.8 | If a change of use within an existing building and only minor building workIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Building approvalAssessed against: Major centre zone code, Healthy waters code, Infrastructure works code, Landscape code, Transport, servicing, access and parking code |
| Medium impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.17 | multiple dwelling is not listed in this zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Mixed use zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.19 | Multiple dwellings (townhouses or units) are not listed in the mixed use zone, so they fall under the default and need an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Neighbourhood centre zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.11 | if building height does not exceed 14m in the Kinross Road neighbourhood centre and 10.5m in other neighbourhood centres (Multiple dwelling)If not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Building approvalAssessed against: Neighbourhood centre zone code, Healthy waters code, Infrastructure works code, Landscape code, Transport, servicing, access and parking code |
| Principal centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.7 | If a change of use within an existing building and only minor building workIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Building approvalAssessed against: Principal centre zone code, Healthy waters code, Infrastructure works code, Landscape code, Transport, servicing, access and parking code |
| Recreation and open space zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.13 | Townhouses or units (multiple dwelling) are not listed in the Recreation and open space zone table, so they fall under 'any other use' and need an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Rural zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.22 | multiple dwelling is not listed in the Rural zone table | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Specialised centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.12 | Townhouses or units (multiple dwelling) are not listed in the Specialised centre zone table, so they fall under 'any other use' and need an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Waterfront and marine industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.18 | Multiple dwellings (townhouses or units) are not listed in this industrial zone, so they fall under the default and need an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
Overlays that change the answer
- Airport environs overlay. No change to the category, but assessable development within the airport operational airspace or aviation facility buffer must also be assessed against the Airport environs overlay code. (5.9.1 Airport environs 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
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
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallHome businessShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Townhouses 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.