South East Queensland Planning Rules
Every SEQ council sets its own size limits and conditions for secondary dwellings. This guide compares the rules across Brisbane, Logan, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and the Redlands.
Key answer: the state sets who can live in a granny flat (anyone, since September 2022). Your council sets how big it can be and where it can sit on the block. The limits below are current at July 2026; planning schemes change, and we confirm the rules for your specific block at suitability review.
A granny flat (formally a secondary dwelling, or in some schemes an auxiliary unit) is a self contained dwelling on the same lot as the main house. Three things are consistent across the state:
Rent to anyone: since September 2022, Queensland removed the rule that limited secondary dwellings to members of the same household. A lawfully approved granny flat can be rented on the open market.
Building approval is always required: a private building certifier assesses the drawings against the Building Code and issues the approval, regardless of which council area you're in.
Council rules decide the planning pathway: meet your council's accepted development criteria (size, siting, site coverage) and you generally avoid a separate development application. Exceed them and a DA to council may be triggered, adding cost and time.
| Council | Typical max size | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | 80m² | Within 20m of the main dwelling; site coverage limits apply |
| Logan | 70m² / 100m² | 70m² on lots under 1,000m²; 100m² on larger lots |
| Gold Coast | 80m² GFA | Maximum 2 bedrooms; within 10m of the main dwelling |
| Ipswich | 50m² | Classed as an “auxiliary unit”; 1 bedroom; includes Springfield |
| Moreton Bay | 45m² / 55m² | 45m² on lots up to 800m², 55m² above; within 10m; tightened in 2024 |
| Sunshine Coast | 60m² / 90m² | 60m² in residential zones; 90m² in rural zones |
| Redlands | In transition | Scheme amendment under way (proposed around 85m²/112m²); check current status |
Figures are simplified summaries of each planning scheme's secondary dwelling provisions, current at July 2026. Zones, overlays and lot specifics can change what applies to an individual property. We verify the current provisions for your block before any drawing work begins.
The same granny flat design can be accepted development in one council area and trigger a development application two suburbs away. A 75m² two bedroom design works in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, sits over the limit in Ipswich and Moreton Bay, and lands differently again on the Sunshine Coast depending on your zone.
Designing to your council’s accepted development criteria from the start is usually the difference between a straightforward certifier approval and months of extra process. That check happens in our suitability review before you commit, and it shapes the design brief we document.
Plan Draft’s granny flat plan service is $4,990 fixed across all SEQ councils. The drawing set covers the site plan with both dwellings, proposed floor plan, roof plan, elevations, a cross section and specification notes, ready for your certifier.
Local service pages for granny flat plans: Brisbane, Logan, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Springfield, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Redland Bay and Capalaba.
For the approval process itself, see our guide on granny flat approval and the cost breakdown in how much granny flat plans cost.
No. State wide rules cover who can live in a secondary dwelling. Size limits, siting conditions and approval pathways are set by each council’s planning scheme, and they differ significantly across SEQ.
Yes. Since September 2022 a lawfully approved secondary dwelling can be rented to anyone, not just family. Council siting and size rules still apply to the structure itself.
Under Brisbane City Plan 2014, generally up to 80m² of gross floor area, within 20m of the main dwelling, with site coverage limits also applying. We confirm the current rules for your block at suitability review.
A building approval through a private certifier is always required. Meet your council’s accepted development criteria and a separate development application is usually not needed. Exceeding them, on size or siting for example, can trigger a DA to council.
Yes. The suitability review checks your council’s current secondary dwelling provisions against your block and brief before you commit. The service is $4,990 fixed across all SEQ councils.
Granny flat plans
$4,990
Fixed price, all SEQ councils. Complete, approval ready drawing set.
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$4,990 fixed across all SEQ councils. Send us your address and we’ll check your council’s rules against your block within one business day, with no commitment required.