This article continues our discussion on the rules and regulations for granny flats and dual occupancy developments in each Council throughout southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales. Our team at Granny and Co have been working closely with Marc Joyce Town Planning to provide this information and will update this section again in the near future but in the meantime call us if you need clarification.

(Last updated: October 14, 2021)

Ipswich City Council’s requirements for granny flats are set out in the Ipswich Planning Scheme (they also reference to the Queensland Development Code). 

If you’re in the Ipswich catchment then there are 2 options for developing your backyard: a secondary dwelling or dual occupancy. The good news is that granny flats can be rented-out! Many other Councils in Queensland charge landowners a levy for the privilege, Ipswich however, has been quite progressive in this regard, they’ve permitted granny flat rentals for many years.

The flipside is that granny flats (secondary dwellings) must have a GFA of 50m2 or less, excluding decks, patios, etc… This leaves you with options such as a large studio, a comfortable 1-bedroom solution or a creative and efficient2-bedroom solution. We recommend oversizing the deck or patio for granny flats in Ipswich, they make a small home more liveable. 

If you need something bigger than 50m2 or if you want to position the granny flat more than 20m away from your house then dual occupancy approval is required… and this will trigger a levy that must be paid to Council.

Here’s a link to a checklist on Council’s website that helps to clarify the rules and regulations for building on properties within Ipswich’s catchment… but to make things easier we’ve summarised the main points below. 

GRANNY FLAT CHECKLIST (ICC)

• Granny flat definition: “auxiliary dwelling”
• Permitted land zone: All residential zones
• Self-assessable? Yes, provided there aren’t any significant development constraints, such as flooding
• Maximum size: 50m2 GFA with a maximum of 1 bedroom. There is no minimum lot size. GFA is measured around the outside of the granny flat walls… excludes Patios, Decks, Carports, etc.
• Maximum overall site coverage / footprint on your site? 50%
• Maximum distance from the primary dwelling: typically 20m
• Does it need to be located behind the primary dwelling? Yes
• Is there a minimum lot size (frontage)? No
• What are the required boundary setbacks? As per the Queensland Development Code
• What are the total number of car spaces required (house + granny flat)? 2+1
• Can I rent out my granny flat to someone outside of my household group? Yes
• Do infrastructure contributions / levies apply? Not for auxiliary dwellings (yes for dual occupancy)

DUAL OCCUPANCY CHECKLIST: (ICC)

• Granny flat / house definition: “dual occupancy”
• Permitted land zones: All residential zones
• Self-assessable? No, it’s code assessable which means you’ll need development approval (DA)
• Maximum size of granny flat: N/A
• Maximum overall site coverage / footprint on your site? 50%
• Maximum distance from the primary dwelling: N/A
• Does it need to be located behind the primary dwelling? N/A
• Is there a minimum lot size (frontage)?  800m2
• What are the required boundary setbacks? As per the Queensland Development Code
• What are the total number of car spaces required (house + dual occ)? 2+2
• Can I rent out my granny flat to someone outside of my household group? Yes
• Do infrastructure contributions / levies apply? Yes
  
  

Source: Ipswich Planning Scheme

Keep in mind that these are only applicable to properties within the Ipswich City Council’s catchment, so make sure to double-check your Council’s rules and regulations if your property falls outside of this catchment.

This article continues our discussion on the rules and regulations for granny flats and dual occupancy developments in each Council throughout southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales.  Our team at Granny and Co have been working closely with Marc Joyce Town Planning to provide this information and will update this section again in the near future but in the meantime call us if you need clarification.

Logan City Council’s requirements for granny flats are set out in the Logan Planning Scheme. 

Logan actually has 3 distinct development options: secondary dwellings plus two different type of dual occupancy. To keep it simple, a secondary dwelling is meant for family use. If you want to rent out your granny flat then it becomes a dual occupancy… and you will have to pay a levy to Council.

The typical size limit for granny flats (secondary dwellings and dual occupancy: auxiliary) in Logan is 70m2 which this is enough for a very comfortable 2 bedroom solution… you may be permitted to build up to 100m2 if the size of your lot is more than 1000m2, which is basically a small home.

Here’s a link to a great checklist on Council’s website that helps to clarify the rules and regulations for building granny flats and dual occupancy developments in Logan Council’s catchment… but to make things easier we’ve summarised the main points below. 

Logan City Council have 3 definitions

DUAL OCCUPANCY CHECKLIST

• Granny flat definition: “secondary dwelling”
• Permitted land zone: All residential zones
• Self-assessable? Yes, provided there aren’t any significant development constraints
• Maximum size: 70m2 GFA on lots less than 1000m2, on larger lots you can build up to 100m2 (GFA is measured around the outside of the granny flat walls… excludes Patios, Decks, Carports, etc)
• Maximum overall site coverage / footprint on your site? 50%
• Maximum distance from the primary dwelling: typically 20m
• Does it need to be located behind the primary dwelling? Yes, Logan are quite particular about the granny flat being subordinate to the main house
• Is there a minimum lot size (frontage)? 450m2 with 15m wide frontage
• What are the required boundary setbacks? As per the Queensland Development Code 
• What are the total number of car spaces required? This varies, normally 2+0
• Can I rent out my granny flat to someone outside of my household group? Yes and No. At the moment the State Govt has allowed rental of a secondary dwelling, but it is a “temporary measure” to alleviate the SE Qld affordable housing crisis. However in the long term, you’ll need dual occupancy approval for this. 
• Do infrastructure contributions / levies apply? Not for secondary dwellings (yes for dual occupancy)

DUAL OCCUPANCY CHECKLIST: “AUXILIARY UNITS” (LCC)

• • Granny flat / house definition: “dual occupancy (auxiliary)”
  • Permitted land zone: All residential zones
  • Self-assessable? Yes
  • Maximum size: N/A
  • Maximum overall site coverage / footprint on your site? 50%
  • Maximum distance from the primary dwelling: 20m
  • Does it need to be located behind the primary dwelling? Yes
  • Is there a minimum lot size (frontage)? 450m2 with 15m wide frontage
  • What are the required boundary setbacks? As per the Queensland Development Code 
  • What are the total number of car spaces required?  2+3 (yes, that’s 5 spaces!)
  • Can I rent out my granny flat to someone outside of my household group? Yes
  • Do infrastructure contributions / levies apply? Yes

DUAL OCCUPANCY CHECKLIST: (LCC)

• Granny flat / house definition: “dual occupancy”
• Permitted land zone: All residential zones
• Self-assessable? No, it’s code assessable which means you’ll need development approval
• Maximum size: N/A
• Maximum overall site coverage / footprint on your site? 50%
• Maximum distance from the primary dwelling: N/A
• Does it need to be located behind the primary dwelling? N/A
• Is there a minimum lot size (frontage)?  As per the “dwelling density” for your particular land zone
• What are the required boundary setbacks? As per the Queensland Development Code 
• What are the total number of car spaces required? This varies, 2+2
• Can I rent out my granny flat to someone outside of my household group? Yes
• Do infrastructure contributions / levies apply? Yes

Source: Logan Council’s website

Keep in mind that these are only applicable to properties within the Logan City Council’s catchment, so make sure to double-check your Council’s rules and regulations if your property falls outside of this catchment.

This article continues our discussion on the rules and regulations for granny flats and dual occupancy developments in each Council throughout southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales. Our team at Granny and Co have been working closely with Marc Joyce Town Planning to provide this information and will update this section again in the near future but in the meantime call us if you need clarification.

Moreton Bay Regional Council’s requirements are set out in the MBRC Planning Scheme. There have been several rule changes for granny flats in this region ever since our team was involved in our first build back in 2008, thankfully Council has recently clarified its position on secondary dwellings (granny flats) as well as dual occupancy or duplex developments. It’s important to understand the difference between the two because, to put it simply, Moreton Council’s 45m2 and 55m2 size restriction for secondary dwellings makes it difficult (but not impossible) to build a small but comfortable 2-bedroom solution. If you need something bigger – like the 80m2 granny flats permitted within the neighbouring Brisbane Council catchment – then you’re basically applying for a dual occupancy solution and development approval (DA) will be required.

We’ve added some links to Council’s website in the above paragraphs that clarify the rules and regulations for building granny flats and dual occupancy developments in Moreton Council’s catchment but to make things easier we’ve summarised the main points below. 

GRANNY FLAT CHECKLIST (MBRC)

• • Granny flat definition: “secondary dwelling”
  • Self-assessable? Yes, provided there aren’t any significant development constraints
  • Maximum size: 55m2 GFA if your frontage is more than 15m wide, 45m2 if it’s less than 15m (GFA is measured around the outside of the granny flat walls… excludes Patios, Decks, Carports, etc)
  • Maximum overall site coverage / footprint on your site? 50%
  • Maximum distance from the primary dwelling: typically 10m
  • Does it need to be located behind the primary dwelling? No
  • Is there a minimum lot size (frontage)? No
  • What are the required boundary setbacks? Setbacks vary depending on the zoning of your land
  • What are the total number of car spaces required? This varies, 3+1 or 1+1
  • Can I rent out my granny flat to someone outside of my household group? Not permitted for secondary dwellings but its ok if you have dual occupancy approval
  • Do infrastructure contributions / levies apply? Not for secondary dwellings (yes for dual occupancy)

DUAL OCCUPANCY CHECKLIST (MBRC)

• Granny flat / house definition: “dual occupancy”
• Self-assessable? No, it’s code assessable which means you’ll need development approval.
• Maximum size: N/A
• Maximum overall site coverage / footprint on your site? 50%
• Maximum distance from the primary dwelling: N/A
• Does it need to be located behind the primary dwelling? No
• Is there a minimum lot size (frontage)? Typically no, but this depends on the zoning or your property
• What are the required boundary setbacks? Setbacks vary depending on the zoning of your land
• What are the total number of car spaces required? This varies, 3+1 or 1+1
• Can I rent out my granny flat to someone outside of my household group? Yes
• Do infrastructure contributions / levies apply? Yes

Source: 

Keep in mind that these are only applicable to properties within the Moreton Bay Regional Council’s catchment, so make sure to double-check your Council’s rules and regulations if your property falls outside of this catchment

This article continues our discussion on the rules and regulations for granny flats and dual occupancy developments in each Council throughout southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales.  Our team at Granny and Co have been working closely with Marc Joyce Town Planning to provide this information and will update this section again in the near future but in the meantime call us if you need clarification.

Gold Coast City Council’s requirements are set out in their City Plan which outlines in detail the rules and regulations for building granny flats and dual occupancy developments. We’ve summarised the main points below. Another good point of reference is this handy fact sheet provided by Council which explains the difference between a house, granny flat and dual occupancy. 

GRANNY FLAT GOLD COAST CHECKLIST (GCCC)

• Granny flat definition: “secondary dwelling”
• Self-assessable? Yes, provided there aren’t any significant development constraints
• Maximum size: 80m2 GFA (measured around the outside of the granny flat walls… excludes Patios, Decks, Carports, etc)
• Maximum overall site coverage / footprint on your site? 50%
• Maximum distance from the primary dwelling: typically 10m (only 3m for properties with medium-density zoning & up to 20m for properties with a rural residential zoning)
• Does it need to be located behind the primary dwelling? No
• Is there a minimum lot size (frontage)? No
• What are the required boundary setbacks? Refer to the Queensland Development Code 
• What are the total number of car spaces required? This varies, but up to 2+2
• Can I rent out my granny flat to someone outside of my household group? Yes and No. At the moment the State Govt has allowed rental of a secondary dwelling, but it is a “temporary measure” to alleviate the SE Qld affordable housing crisis. However in the long term, you’ll need dual occupancy approval for this. 
• Do infrastructure contributions / levies apply? Not for secondary dwellings (yes for dual occupancy)

DUAL OCCUPANCY CHECKLIST (GCCC)

• Granny flat / house definition: “dual occupancy”
• Self-assessable? In some situations, yes (eg. if you have a site with dual frontages or if the “residential density overlay map” is RD1 or greater, which means 1 dwelling per 400 metres). Otherwise, getting your dual occupancy approved will require development approval.
• Maximum size: N/A
• Maximum overall site coverage / footprint on your site? 50%
• Maximum distance from the primary dwelling: N/A
• Does it need to be located behind the primary dwelling? No
• Is there a minimum lot size (frontage)? Yes this varies depending on the zoning or your property and the “residential density overlay”.
• What are the required boundary setbacks? Refer to the Dual Occupancy Code
• What are the total number of car spaces required? 2 + 2
• Can I rent out my granny flat to someone outside of my household group? Yes
• Do infrastructure contributions / levies apply? Yes

Source: Gold Coast Council City Plan

Keep in mind that these are only applicable to properties within the Gold Coast Council’s catchment, so make sure to double-check your Council’s rules and regulations if your property falls outside of this catchment.