Townhouses and units in Rockhampton — do you need approval?
Rockhampton Regional Council's planning scheme — the Rockhampton Region Planning Scheme 2015 (Version 5, 2025-03-28) — 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 (code assessment). Townhouses/units need a code-assessed development application only if close to a centre and on a suitable road; otherwise an impact-assessed application is 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
Multiple dwelling. Residential zones first.
| Zone | What the table says | Conditions | What you'll need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low density residential zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.1.1 | if within 200 m of a centre/open space/sport zone, major hospital or CQ University, and on a road classified minor urban collector or higherIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Building approvalAssessed against: Low density residential zone code, Access, parking and transport code, Landscape code, Stormwater management code, Waste management code, Water and sewer code |
| Low density residential zone — Fitzroy River accommodation precinct | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.1.1.1 | multiple dwelling is not listed for this precinct | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Low density residential zone — Residential stables precinct | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.1.1.2 | multiple dwelling is not listed for this precinct | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Low-medium density residential zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.1.2 | multiple dwelling | Building approvalAssessed against: Low-medium density residential zone code, Access, parking and transport code, Landscape code, Stormwater management code, Waste management code, Water and sewer code |
| High density residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.1.3 | if reusing existing building(s) with no more than minor building workIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Building approvalAssessed against: High density residential zone code, Works code, Access, parking and transport code, Landscape code, Stormwater management code, Waste management code, Water and sewer code |
| Rural residential zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.6.5 | Townhouses or units (multiple dwelling) are not listed in this zone, so they fall under 'any other use' and need an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Township zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.6.7 | Multiple dwellings (townhouses or units) are not listed in the Township zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies and an impact-assessable development application is required. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Emerging community zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.6.2 | Multiple dwellings (townhouses/units) are not listed for the Emerging community zone, so they default to an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Community facilities zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.6.1 | Multiple dwellings (townhouses/units) are not listed for the Community facilities zone, so they default to an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| District centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.2.3 | if reusing existing building(s) with no more than minor building workIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Building approvalAssessed against: District centre zone code, Works code, Access, parking and transport code, Landscape code, Stormwater management code, Waste management code, Water and sewer code |
| Environmental management and conservation zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.4.1 | Townhouses or units (multiple dwelling) are not listed in this zone, so they fall under 'any other use' and need an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| High impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.5.3 | Multiple dwellings are not listed in the High impact industry zone, so they default to impact assessment and need a development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Limited development (constrained land) zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.6.3 | Townhouses or units (multiple dwelling) are not listed in this zone, so they fall under 'any other use' and need an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Local centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.2.4 | Multiple dwelling — if the reuse of existing building(s) or structure(s) and not involving more than minor building workIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Building approvalAssessed against: Local centre zone code, Works code |
| Low impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.5.1 | Multiple dwellings are not listed in the Low impact industry zone, so they default to impact assessment and need a development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Major centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.2.2 | if reusing existing building(s) with no more than minor building workIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Building approvalAssessed against: Major centre zone code, Works code, Access, parking and transport code, Landscape code, Stormwater management code, Waste management code, Water and sewer code |
| Medium impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.5.2 | Multiple dwellings are not listed in the Medium impact industry zone, so they default to impact assessment and need a development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Neighbourhood centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.2.5 | Multiple dwelling — if the reuse of existing building(s) or structure(s) and not involving more than minor building workIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Building approvalAssessed against: Neighbourhood centre zone code, Works code |
| Open space zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.3.2 | Multiple dwellings are not listed in the Open space zone, so they default to impact assessment and need a development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Principal centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Tables 5.4.2.1.1–5.4.2.1.4 | if reusing existing building(s) with no more than minor building work (not in Denison Street precinct where multiple dwelling is not listed and defaults to impact)If not met: a development application with code assessment. | Building approvalAssessed against: Principal centre zone code, Works code, Access, parking and transport code, Landscape code, Stormwater management code, Waste management code, Water and sewer code |
| Rural zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.6.4 | Townhouses or units (multiple dwelling) are not listed in this zone, so they fall under 'any other use' and need an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Special industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.5.4 | Multiple dwellings (townhouses/units) are not listed for the Special industry zone, so they default to an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Special purpose zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.6.6 | Multiple dwellings (townhouses or units) are not listed in the Special purpose zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies and an impact-assessable development application is required. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Specialised centre zone | It depends — see below Table 5.4.2.6.1/5.4.2.6.2 | Multiple dwelling — accepted subject to requirements/code if located in the relevant residential/mixed-use sub-precinct and reusing existing building; otherwise impactIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Building approvalAssessed against: Specialised centre zone code, Works code, The planning scheme |
| Sport and recreation zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.3.1 | Multiple dwelling not listed; defaults to 'any other use' | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Waterfront and marine industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.5.5 | Multiple dwellings (townhouses/units) are not listed for the Waterfront and marine industry zone, so they default to an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
Overlays that change the answer
- Bushfire hazard overlay — high and very high hazard. Multiple dwelling becomes impact assessable (full development application with public notification). (Table 5.9.4)
- Bushfire hazard overlay — buffer and medium hazard. No change to the category, but the Bushfire hazard overlay code applies, including to accepted-subject-to-requirements development. (Table 5.9.4)
- Flood hazard overlay — high/extreme hazard (H3-H6) or Local catchment flood planning area 1. A dwelling house that is accepted becomes accepted subject to requirements; dual occupancy, multiple dwellings and most residential uses become impact assessable (full development application with public notification). (Table 5.9.8)
- Special management area overlay. Dual occupancy and multiple dwellings become impact assessable (full development application with public notification). (Table 5.9.10)
Worth knowing in Rockhampton
IMPORTANT: The scheme's building work table (section 5.6) is 'Not applicable' — the scheme does NOT itself make domestic building work (sheds, carports, pools, fences, extensions, demolition) assessable in the base case. Those projects are generally 'accepted' under the planning scheme (no planning development application), but a building approval under the Building Act 1975 is almost always still required and must be obtained separately. Overlays (especially Flood, Character, Heritage) can change this — see overlay_triggers. Granny flats: the QPP 'Dwelling house' definition includes a secondary dwelling, so a granny flat follows the Dwelling house row of each zone; in residential/township/rural/rural residential/emerging community zones a dwelling house is 'accepted' (or 'accepted subject to requirements' in Emerging community and Rural), but in centre, industry, open space, sport & recreation, community facilities, special purpose, limited development and environmental zones a dwelling house is not listed and falls to the 'any other use' row = impact assessable. Minimum lot sizes for subdivision are set in Table 9.3.5.3.2 of the Reconfiguring a lot code, which was not reproduced in the material provided — specific numeric minimums per zone could not be extracted, so min_lot_size_m2 is null for all zones. Known thresholds: Emerging community = 10 hectares for code assessment; Rural = the minimum nominated in the Reconfiguring a lot code. Many zones have precincts and sub-precincts; the scheme states that for a precinct/sub-precinct the relevant (parent) zone categories apply for reconfiguring and operational work, but material-change-of-use tables can differ by precinct (e.g. Low density residential Fitzroy River accommodation precinct allows some small-scale commercial uses). Tree clearing: the scheme only regulates vegetation clearing as operational work via overlays (Biodiversity, etc.); the general operational work table (5.7.1) mainly covers filling/excavation and access/services works — most vegetation clearing is accepted under the scheme but the State Vegetation Management Act 1999 rules are separate and may still apply. Home-based business is 'accepted subject to requirements' in residential, township, rural, rural residential, industry and emerging community zones (meet the relevant zone code) and 'accepted' in centre zones.
What else you'll need
- Building approval
More about Rockhampton
- What can you build in Rockhampton? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Rockhampton Regional Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Rockhampton address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Parkhurst
- Development applications in Kawana
- Development applications in Park Avenue
- Development applications in Berserker
- Development applications in Frenchville
- Development applications in Gracemere
- Development applications in Koongal
- Development applications in Depot Hill
Other projects in Rockhampton
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallHome businessShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Townhouses in Queensland.
Read from the Rockhampton Region Planning Scheme 2015 (Version 5, 2025-03-28) 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.