Townhouses and units in Sunshine Coast — do you need approval?
Sunshine Coast Council's planning scheme — the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 (Amendment 27) — 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). A multiple dwelling isn't listed in the low density residential zone, so the 'all other uses' row applies and townhouses need an impact assessable development application.
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 5.5.1 | multiple dwelling is not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Medium density residential zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.5.2 | Townhouses (a multiple dwelling) in the medium density residential zone need a code assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: Medium density residential zone code, Applicable local plan code, Multi-unit residential uses code, Prescribed other development codes |
| High density residential zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.5.3 | Townhouses (a multiple dwelling) in the high density residential zone need a code assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: High density residential zone code, Applicable local plan code, Multi-unit residential uses code, Prescribed other development codes |
| Tourist accommodation zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.5.4 | Townhouses (a multiple dwelling) in the tourist accommodation zone need a code assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: Tourist accommodation zone code, Applicable local plan code, Multi-unit residential uses code, Prescribed other development codes |
| Rural residential zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.20 | multiple dwelling is 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 5.5.17 | multiple dwelling is not a listed use in this zone (code assessable in the Pelican Waters Golf Course area on a site nominated for multiple dwellings on an approved plan of development — Table 5.9.5.1) | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Community facilities zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.16 | multiple dwelling is not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| District centre zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.5.7 | Townhouses (a multiple dwelling) in the district centre zone need a code assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: District centre zone code, Applicable local plan code, Multi-unit residential uses code, Prescribed other development codes |
| Environmental management and conservation zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.15 | multiple dwelling is not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| High impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.11 | multiple dwelling is not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Limited development (landscape residential) zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.18 | multiple dwelling is not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Local centre zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.5.8 | if forming part of a mixed use developmentIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Building approvalAssessed against: Local centre zone code, Applicable local plan code, Multi-unit residential uses code, Prescribed other development codes |
| Low impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.9 | multiple dwelling is not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Major centre zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.5.6 | Townhouses (a multiple dwelling) in the major centre zone need a code assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: Major centre zone code, Applicable local plan code, Multi-unit residential uses code, Prescribed other development codes |
| Medium impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.10 | multiple dwelling is not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Open space zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.14 | multiple dwelling is not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Principal centre zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.5.5 | Townhouses (a multiple dwelling) in the principal centre zone need a code assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: Principal centre zone code, Maroochydore/Kuluin local plan code, Multi-unit residential uses code, Prescribed other development codes |
| Rural zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.19 | multiple dwelling is not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Specialised centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.21 | multiple dwelling is not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Sport and recreation zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.13 | multiple dwelling is not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Tourism zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.22 | multiple dwelling is not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Waterfront and marine industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.12 | multiple dwelling is not a listed use in this zone | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
Overlays that change the answer
- Height of buildings and structures overlay. Any development exceeding the maximum height shown on the overlay map becomes impact assessable. (Table 5.10.1)
Worth knowing in Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 (Amendment 27), Part 5, converted from the council PDF. 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 unless Table 5.6.1 says otherwise; building work and operational work are accepted unless the tables say otherwise (section 5.3.2). The scheme writes 'Accepted development' with a code in the requirements column; under section 5.3.3 that is accepted development subject to requirements, and failing an acceptable outcome makes it code assessable — mapped here as accepted_subject_to_requirements. A dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) is listed only in the Low, Medium and High density residential, Tourist accommodation, Emerging community, Limited development (landscape residential), Rural and Rural residential zones; elsewhere the 'all other uses' impact row applies. Schedules 6, 7 and 10 of the Planning Regulation 2017 override the scheme (5.3.2(10)). Building work (Table 5.7.1, not involving a change of use) is accepted if minor building work or tied to an accepted use, accepted subject to the applicable use code where it has accepted-development outcomes, and otherwise code assessable — the Building Act building approval is separate. Demolition isn't singled out in Table 5.7.1; only the Heritage and character areas overlay makes it impact assessable. Vegetation clearing that isn't exempt vegetation clearing is code assessable against the Vegetation management code in every zone (Table 5.8.1); filling or excavation over 50 m³ is code assessable except on Rural/Rural residential lots over 5,000 m² (up to 150 m³). Minimum lot sizes sit in Table 9.4.4.3.2 of the Reconfiguring a lot code, not Part 5. Precincts and local plans: Precinct LDR1 (Protected Housing Area) makes a dual occupancy impact assessable in the Low density residential zone; Buderim BUD LPP-1 and Caloundra West CAW LPP-1 make any extra lot impact assessable; the Town of Seaside precinct (Maroochy North Shore MNS LPP-2) accepts any use or building work in accordance with its subdivision permit, otherwise impact; the Palmview declared master planned area follows its Structure Plan; the Emerging community and Tourism zones expect a master plan/approved plan of development that may vary categories; the airport and aerodrome precincts, Kawana, Nambour, Sippy Downs, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore local plans vary business uses (section 5.9). Where premises are in more than one zone, local plan or overlay the highest category applies; an overlay category overrides a zone or local plan category (5.3.2(8)). Many overlays (bushfire, flood, coastal protection, landslide, scenic amenity, regional infrastructure, water resource catchments) bring 'no change' of category but add their overlay code as a benchmark when the development is already assessable.
What else you'll need
- Building approval
More about Sunshine Coast
- What can you build in Sunshine Coast? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Sunshine Coast Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Sunshine Coast address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Maroochydore
- Development applications in Coolum Beach
- Development applications in Buderim
- Development applications in Yandina
- Development applications in Mooloolaba
- Development applications in Caloundra
- Development applications in Palmview
- Development applications in Beerwah
Other projects in Sunshine Coast
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallHome businessShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Townhouses in Queensland.
Read from the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 (Amendment 27) 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.