Granny Flat Rules QLD: Brisbane, Gold Coast & Council-by-Council Guide (2026)

TL;DR: Queensland doesn’t have a single granny flat size limit — each council sets its own rules. Brisbane and the Gold Coast allow up to 80sqm, Logan caps at 70sqm, and Moreton Bay uses a tiered system (45-55sqm based on lot size). Since September 2022, you can rent your granny flat to anyone in QLD. Most granny flats that meet local planning scheme criteria qualify as “accepted development” and don’t need a DA, but building approval is always required.

Key takeaways

• Granny flat sizes in Queensland vary by council, ranging from 45sqm to 100sqm depending on your local area and zoning.
• Since September 26, 2022, you can rent a secondary dwelling to anyone. The old family-member restriction is gone.
• If your granny flat meets your council’s “accepted development” criteria, you don’t need a DA — just building approval.
• Brisbane allows up to 80sqm GFA (100sqm in rural zones), and the dwelling must be within 20m of the main house.
• You always need building approval from a licensed building certifier.
• Fire safety requirements are stricter if you plan to rent out the granny flat.

The state-wide framework

Unlike NSW, which has a single Housing SEPP, or Victoria, with state-wide planning rules, Queensland’s granny flat rules are set by each local council through its own planning scheme. The state provides a framework through the Planning Act 2016 and Planning Regulation 2017, but size limits, setbacks, and approval processes are determined locally.

The 2022 rental reform

The biggest state-wide change came on September 26, 2022, when the Queensland Government amended the Planning Regulation 2017 to remove restrictions on who could live in secondary dwellings. Before that:

• Only a member of the main household could occupy the granny flat
• Renting to unrelated tenants wasn’t allowed
• The granny flat had to be a subordinate part of the main dwelling

After the change, anyone can live in a secondary dwelling, homeowners can rent it out, and standard tenancy laws apply.

The reform was intended to address the South East Queensland housing shortage by unlocking tens of thousands of potential dwellings across the state.

Council-by-council rules

Brisbane City Council

Brisbane’s rules sit in the City Plan 2014 and are among the most generous in Queensland.

Size limits:

• Maximum Gross Floor Area (GFA): 80sqm in residential zones
• Maximum GFA in rural zones: 100sqm
• Maximum 2 bedrooms regardless of floor area

Siting requirements:

• Must be within 20m of the main house
• Rear setback: 3m minimum
• Side setback: 1.5m minimum
• Maximum site coverage: 50% (all buildings combined)
• Fire separation: 1.8m minimum between the granny flat and other buildings

Front setback:

• Lots over 450sqm: 6m from the front boundary
• Smaller lots: determined by the setbacks of nearby houses

Parking: Brisbane City Plan requires at least one covered parking space for the main house, but generally doesn’t require additional parking for the granny flat.

Approval pathway: Most Brisbane properties won’t need a DA if the dwelling is in the right zone and meets all City Plan rules — it’s treated as “accepted development” and you go straight to building approval.

You do need a DA if the dwelling is over 80sqm, more than 20m from the main house, the property has overlays (flood, bushfire, character, heritage, biodiversity), or you can’t meet site coverage, setback, or parking requirements.

Gold Coast City Council

Size limits:

• Maximum GFA: 80sqm (standard)
• Up to 120sqm with a DA and sufficient justification
• Maximum 2 bedrooms

Infrastructure charges (as of July 2025):

• Sewered areas: around $24,000
• Non-sewered areas: around $17,000
• Charges apply if you exceed 80sqm, even for otherwise accepted development

Siting requirements:

• Generally must be within 10m of the main house
• Must share water, sewer, electricity, and driveway connections with the main house

The Gold Coast’s infrastructure charges are a real budget item. Brisbane generally waives these for secondary dwellings, so it’s worth factoring this in early if you’re on the Gold Coast.

Logan City Council

Logan distinguishes between three types of secondary accommodation:

1. Secondary Dwelling: a smaller dwelling on the same lot
2. Dual Occupancy (Auxiliary): a similar arrangement under a different planning category
3. Dual Occupancy: two dwellings of equal size on the same lot

Size limits:

• Residential zones: 70sqm maximum GFA
• Non-residential zones (where permitted): 100sqm maximum GFA

Lot requirements:

• Minimum lot size: 450sqm
• Minimum frontage: 15m
• The granny flat must be smaller than the main house

Infrastructure charges:

• Not required for secondary dwellings
• Required for dual occupancy developments

The no-infrastructure-charge rule and a reasonable 70sqm limit make Logan’s secondary dwelling pathway worth considering if you’re in that council area.

Moreton Bay Regional Council

Moreton Bay overhauled its rules on October 30, 2024 through the Better Housing Amendment. Rather than a single size limit, it introduced a tiered system based on lot size.

Size limits (tiered GFA model):

Additional conditions:

• The secondary dwelling must be within 50m of the main dwelling
• Separate electricity or water connections are not allowed (sub-meters are fine)
• In Suburban Neighbourhood and Coastal Communities zones, entry points, patios, and decks must face the main dwelling

The 45sqm cap on lots under 800sqm is tight — you’re probably looking at a compact 1-bedroom layout at that scale.

Ipswich City Council

Ipswich calls them “auxiliary units” rather than secondary dwellings. The maximum GFA is 50sqm, one of the smallest limits in South East Queensland. A 1-bedroom layout is most realistic at that size.

Sunshine Coast Regional Council

• Maximum GFA: 60sqm in residential zones
• Up to 90sqm in rural zones
• Must meet the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014

Summary: SEQ council size comparison

Approval pathways in Queensland

Accepted development (no DA required)

If your granny flat meets all the rules in your council’s planning scheme for a secondary dwelling, it’s “accepted development.” This means no DA lodgement, no public notice, no council assessment — you go straight to building approval.

This is the fastest and cheapest route, but you have to meet every requirement. Miss one (size, setback, overlay, proximity to the main dwelling) and you’ll need a DA.

Code assessment (DA required)

If the granny flat doesn’t qualify as accepted development, you need to lodge a DA for code assessment. The council assesses the application against relevant codes in the planning scheme.

• DA lodgement fee: $1,500-$4,000 (varies by council)
• Assessment period: 20-40 business days for code assessment
• No public notice required for code assessment
• Council may impose conditions

Impact assessment (rare)

Impact assessment is rarely required for secondary dwellings. It applies in exceptional cases involving significant environmental or heritage impacts, involves public notice, and can take 50+ business days.

Building approval: always required

Whether or not you need a DA, building approval is required for any new granny flat in Queensland. A licensed building certifier (private or council) issues this separately from the planning system.

Building approval confirms the project meets:

• Structural and safety requirements under the Building Code of Australia (BCA)
• Queensland Development Code standards
• Plumbing and drainage rules
• Fire safety requirements (particularly important for rentals)
• Energy efficiency standards

Fire safety for rental granny flats

This is one of the most commonly overlooked requirements. If you’re converting a granny flat from family use to a rental, or designing for rental from the start, you need to meet additional fire and acoustic standards under the BCA.

Specifically, rental use may require greater fire separation between the granny flat and the main house, acoustic treatment, and additional interconnected smoke alarms. Talk to a building certifier before you finalise your design — failing to comply means no final certificate, which means no legal tenancy.

Rental rules in Queensland

Since the September 2022 change, you can rent your granny flat to anyone. The tenant doesn’t need to be a family member, the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 applies, and the dwelling must have a final building approval (Form 21) before anyone moves in.

One thing worth knowing: some commentators have described the rental allowance as a temporary response to the South East Queensland housing shortage. There’s no end date on record, but the policy could change with a future government. Most homeowners aren’t holding off on that basis, but it’s worth being aware of.

Costs: what will a QLD granny flat cost?

Use our granny flat cost calculator to get a more accurate estimate for your part of Queensland.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Assuming the rules are the same everywhere — granny flat limits vary widely by council. Always check your local planning scheme before doing anything else.
2. Forgetting infrastructure charges — the Gold Coast charges $17,000-$24,000. If you’re not expecting it, that’s a serious budget hit.
3. Not upgrading fire safety for rentals — extra BCA compliance is required before you can legally house a tenant.
4. Building without checking for overlays — flood, bushfire, and character overlays can trigger a DA requirement even on otherwise compliant projects.
5. Breaching the proximity rule — Brisbane’s 20m limit and Moreton Bay’s 50m limit are absolute. Go over and you need a DA.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need council approval for a granny flat in QLD?

Sometimes. If your granny flat meets all your council’s “accepted development” criteria, you don’t need a DA. You always need building approval from a licensed certifier.

What’s the biggest a granny flat can be in Queensland?

It depends on your council. Brisbane allows 80sqm, the Gold Coast 80sqm (120sqm with a DA), Logan 70sqm, Moreton Bay 45-55sqm based on lot size, Ipswich 50sqm, and the Sunshine Coast 60sqm. Rural areas generally allow larger dwellings.

Can I rent out my granny flat in QLD?

Yes. Since September 2022 you can rent to anyone. You’ll need to meet additional fire safety standards for a rental, so confirm compliance with a building certifier before you build.

What are the new granny flat rules in QLD?

The biggest recent change was the September 2022 rental reform, removing the family-member requirement. Some councils have also updated their planning schemes — Moreton Bay introduced its tiered size system in October 2024.

Do I have to pay infrastructure charges for a granny flat in QLD?

It depends on your council. Brisbane and Logan generally don’t charge infrastructure charges for secondary dwellings. The Gold Coast charges around $17,000-$24,000. Check with your council before budgeting.

This guide is based on Queensland granny flat rules as of April 2026. Council planning schemes can change — always check current requirements with your local council before starting your project. Use our granny flat cost calculator to estimate build costs.