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Scenic amenity and landscape character overlay in Queensland — what it means if you want to build

An overlay is an extra layer of planning rules that sits on top of a property's zone.

What it is

Land whose views or landscape the council wants to protect: ridgelines and hills seen from town, scenic routes, significant trees and the approaches into a town.

What it means for you

Buildings may face height limits, colour and material rules, and a requirement to stay below a ridgeline, and clearing of significant trees can need approval.

A council overlay. A council scheme overlay, not part of the free state-wide lookup.

How councils treat it

From the planning scheme tables of assessment of 4 councils: what the overlay changes and which projects it touches. Each tag links to that council's page for the project.

  • Brisbane

    Brisbane City Plan 2014

    • Significant landscape tree overlay (Table 5.10.19)

      New dwelling house or extension within a significant landscape tree's protection zone is accepted subject to requirements (if meeting the code) or code assessable; ROL and filling/excavation become code assessable.

    • Key civic space and iconic vista overlay (Table 5.10.13A)

      MCU (not a market or park) over the maximum height on an identified site becomes impact assessable.

  • Gold Coast

    Gold Coast City Plan (City Plan) — Part 5 Tables of assessment (v14, 2026-09-29)

    • Ridges and significant hills protection overlay (Table 5.10.19 Ridges and significant hills protection overlay)

      In a mapped 'Ridges and significant hills' area, an otherwise accepted material change of use involving building work becomes accepted subject to requirements (Ridges and significant hills protection overlay code). Also raises the reconfiguration minimum lot size to 600m² in medium/high density residential zones.

  • Livingstone

    Livingstone Planning Scheme 2018

  • Toowoomba

    Toowoomba Regional Planning Scheme 2012 (Version 29)

    • Scenic Amenity Overlay (Table 5.7:1)

      Building work (other than minor building work) that increases gross floor area on the part of the site in the overlay is code assessable against the Scenic Amenity Overlay Code.

Is my property in it?

Search your address in Landbrief's free check: it shows the zone and which planning layers apply to the lot.

Common questions

What is the scenic amenity and landscape character overlay?

Land whose views or landscape the council wants to protect: ridgelines and hills seen from town, scenic routes, significant trees and the approaches into a town.

What does the scenic amenity and landscape character overlay mean if I want to build?

Buildings may face height limits, colour and material rules, and a requirement to stay below a ridgeline, and clearing of significant trees can need approval. Of the councils whose tables of assessment we have read, 4 mention it, and each treats it differently — see the table on this page.

How do I find out if my property is in the scenic amenity and landscape character overlay?

Search your address in Landbrief's free check, which shows the state layers that apply to the lot and, for councils whose overlays we read directly, the council layers too. For the council's own mapping, the planning scheme maps and the council's online property report are the official source. Confirm with the council or a town planner before you buy or build.

Other overlays

Bushfire hazardLandslide hazard and steep landAcid sulfate soilsFlood hazardCoastal hazard (storm tide and erosion)Vegetation managementBiodiversity, waterways and wetlandsHeritageNeighbourhood characterAirport environsExtractive resources and miningRegional infrastructure and corridorsWater resource catchmentsAgricultural landTransport noise and corridors

Read from each council's planning scheme 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.