Thinking of Building a Granny Flat in Queensland? Check This Before You Start

If you’re thinking about building a granny flat in Queensland, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is whether you need council approval. The answer is: it depends.

Approval requirements vary between local councils and depend on factors such as your property’s zoning, the size and location of the granny flat, and how you intend to use it. While some granny flats may qualify for a streamlined approval process if they meet very specific planning and building requirements, others will require a formal development application before construction can begin.

Building Approvals Still Apply

Even if planning approval isn’t required, you’ll still need to comply with the Queensland Building Code and obtain building approvals before any work starts. Every council in Queensland will have requirements relating to:

• setbacks
• site coverage
• height limits
• parking and
• services.

It’s also important to consider how the granny flat will be used. Whether it’s intended for family members, guests or as a secondary dwelling can influence the approval process under your local planning scheme.

Before making plans or signing a building contract, it’s worth checking with your local council or seeking professional advice to understand the rules that apply to your property.

The Brisbane City Council Rules

In Brisbane City Council, for example, a granny flat is deemed to be a ‘secondary dwelling’ and you will need to get a development approval in most cases. There are some circumstances where you won’t require a building approval if the granny flat strictly complies with the Brisbane City Council City Plan.

In Brisbane City Council, to build a granny flat without a DA, you must comply with the following BCC City Plan guidelines:

• Size: The maximum gross floor area must not exceed 80 square metres.
• Distance: The granny flat must be located within 20 metres of the primary house.
• Parking: You must provide at least one dedicated parking space for the granny flat, in addition to one for the main house.
• Site Cover: Total building coverage across your property (main house + granny flat + carports) generally cannot exceed 50% for lots over 450m².

In Brisbane City Council you cannot rent out your granny flat to anyone other than a family member.

Other Councils Have Different Rules

Redland City Council, however, will allow you to rent the granny flat to anyone. It also allows the granny flat to be larger and get bigger depending on the size of your block — on a block of land that is greater than 1000m², your granny flat can be up to 112m². Cairns Regional Council limits the size of granny flats to 70m². So, in short, it really depends on the local council area that you are building in.

Do Your Research Upfront

It is very important to research and confirm the approval requirements upfront, as this will vary quite a bit depending on where you live. There are of course a number of companies that deal exclusively with granny flats who will be able to assist you with your build.