Building a community facility
Learn what a community facility is and what approvals you need to build one.
What is a community facility?
A community facility is a space or building used to provide amenities or services to the public.
Under Brisbane City Plan 2014 (City Plan), community facilities can be used for community, educational and health care purposes, and include major sports venues and cemeteries.
They can also be used to prepare and serve food and drink, if it's not the primary function of the premises.
Community facilities may include a:
- cemetery
- club
- childcare centre
- community care centre
- community residence
- community use
- crematorium
- educational establishment
- emergency services centre
- funeral parlour
- health care service
- hospital
- major sport, recreation and entertainment facility
- place of worship.
What you need to know
Before you set up a community facility on your property, you need to:
- find key facts about your property
- understand the relevant codes
- identify the approvals you need.
Find your key property facts
Use the mapping tool in City Plan online to find key facts about your property. This includes:
- zoning
- neighbourhood plans
- overlays.
Know the preferred locations
City Plan encourages community facilities to be built in the following zones, depending on the specific use:
- Community facilities zone
- Centre zones, including the:
- Principal centre zone
- Major centre zone
- District centre zone
- Neighbourhood centre zone.
Determine the type of approval you need
You may need one or more of the following approvals to build a community facility:
- planning approval
- building approval.
Planning approval
You may need to get planning approval before you build a community facility.
Building approval
You may need to seek advice if you’re planning to undertake building works, or if you’re planning to occupy an existing building that was not designed, built or adapted to be used as a community facility.
Get advice from a licensed private building certifier or building consultant for:
- building work for an existing building or a new building
- any building approval that is required.
If you need more information, you can:
- phone Council’s Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263)
- book in to talk to a planner
- arrange for a prelodgement meeting with Council.
Other things to consider
Land leased from Council
If your community facility project is on land leased from Council, you'll need to apply for Council consent to lodge your development application.
