landbrief.

Environmental management and conservation zone in Queensland — what you can build

Land with significant environmental value, such as bushland, waterways and habitat, kept in as natural a state as possible. Expect strict limits on clearing, building and subdivision.

In short: Little can be built or cleared without a development application; an existing lot may allow one house with conditions. The table below gives the real answer, council by council.

What the tables of assessment say, council by council

Each council's planning scheme has a table of assessment: for every zone and every kind of project, it says whether you need no application, or a development application and how it is assessed. Each coloured tag links to that council's page for the project. Read from 11 councils.

What the tags mean

  • Accepted — no planning application needed.
  • Accepted if requirements met — no application if your plans meet the council's code requirements; if they do not, it becomes a development application.
  • Code — a development application assessed against the planning codes, without public notification.
  • Impact — a development application with public notification: neighbours can make submissions and object. How to object to a development application.
  • Not allowed — the planning scheme does not allow it in this zone.

“Varies” means the table depends on the details of the project. An overlay such as flood or bushfire can turn an accepted project into a development application — see planning overlays explained.

Common questions

Can I build a granny flat in the environmental management and conservation zone?

It varies by council. Across the 11 councils whose tables of assessment we have read, the most common answer for a granny flat in this zone is a development application with public notification (impact assessment). The split was: 1 accepted, 1 code, 9 impact (each council zone counted once). Check your own council's table on this page, and whether an overlay such as flood or bushfire applies to your lot.

Do I need approval for a dual occupancy in the environmental management and conservation zone?

It varies by council. Across the 11 councils whose tables of assessment we have read, the most common answer for a dual occupancy in this zone is a development application with public notification (impact assessment). The split was: 11 impact (each council zone counted once). Check your own council's table on this page, and whether an overlay such as flood or bushfire applies to your lot.

Can I subdivide land in the environmental management and conservation zone?

It varies by council. Across the 11 councils whose tables of assessment we have read, the most common answer for subdividing in this zone is a development application assessed against the codes (code assessment). The split was: 10 code, 1 impact (each council zone counted once). Check your own council's table on this page, and whether an overlay such as flood or bushfire applies to your lot.

Is your lot in this zone?

A Landbrief site report checks any Queensland address against its zone and every planning layer that applies — $49 as a PDF. Check an address.

Other recreation and environment zones

Sport and recreationOpen spaceRecreation and open spaceEnvironmental managementConservation

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.