Environmental management zone in Queensland — what you can build
Land with environmental value, such as bushland, wetlands, waterways and habitat, where the aim is to protect it. Building and clearing are tightly controlled.
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 5 councils.
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Brisbane
Brisbane City Plan 2014 · Minimum lot size to subdivide 10 ha
- Granny flat: Accepted if requirements met
- Dual occupancy: Impact
- Subdivide: Impact
- Shed or carport: Accepted
- Extension: Accepted
- Pool: Accepted
- Fence or wall: Accepted
- Home business: Accepted if requirements met
- Townhouses: Impact
- Shop, café or office: Impact
- Clear trees: Accepted if requirements met
- Demolish: Accepted
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Cairns
CairnsPlan 2016
- Granny flat: Code
- Dual occupancy: Impact
- Subdivide: Impact
- Shed or carport: Accepted if requirements met
- Extension: Accepted if requirements met
- Pool: Accepted if requirements met
- Fence or wall: Accepted if requirements met
- Home business: Code
- Townhouses: Impact
- Shop, café or office: Impact
- Clear trees: Accepted if requirements met
- Demolish: Accepted if requirements met
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Gladstone
Gladstone Regional Council Planning Scheme (Version 2.1)
- Granny flat: Accepted if requirements met
- Dual occupancy: Impact
- Subdivide: Impact
- Shed or carport: Accepted
- Extension: Accepted
- Pool: Accepted
- Fence or wall: Accepted
- Home business: Accepted if requirements met
- Townhouses: Impact
- Shop, café or office: Impact
- Clear trees: Accepted
- Demolish: Accepted
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Ipswich
Ipswich City Plan 2025
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Redland
Redland City Plan 2018
- Granny flat: Accepted if requirements met
- Dual occupancy: Impact
- Subdivide: Impact
- Shed or carport: Accepted
- Extension: Accepted
- Pool: Accepted
- Fence or wall: Accepted
- Home business: Accepted if requirements met
- Townhouses: Impact
- Shop, café or office: Impact
- Clear trees: Accepted
- Demolish: Accepted
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 zone?
It varies by council. Across the 5 councils whose tables of assessment we have read, the most common answer for a granny flat in this zone is no development application if the build meets the council's requirements. The split was: 3 accepted if requirements met, 2 code (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 zone?
It varies by council. Across the 5 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: 1 code, 4 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 zone?
It varies by council. Across the 5 councils whose tables of assessment we have read, the most common answer for subdividing in this zone is a development application with public notification (impact assessment). The split was: 1 code, 4 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 management and conservationConservation
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.