Setting up an industrial business

Check if you need planning approval for your industrial business. Find out how to lodge a development application.

What is an industrial business?

An industrial business is one that manufactures, produces, processes, repairs, alters, recycles, stores, distributes, transfers or treats products.

Different industrial businesses will have different requirements to comply with Brisbane City Plan 2014 (City Plan). Use Table SC1.1.3.A in City Plan to find the definition and requirements of your business.

Looking for something else

Business support

Environmental authority application

Operating a warehouse

What you need to know

Before you set up an industrial business on your property, you need to:

find key facts about your property
understand the relevant codes
determine the specific industrial land use
know the industry zones and intended development.

Find key property facts

Use the mapping tool in City Plan online to find key facts about your property. This includes:

zoning
neighbourhood plans
overlays.

Understand the code

Codes that may apply to your industrial business include the Industry code and any code relevant to your zone or relevant neighbourhood plan.

Secondary codes may also apply. This could include the:

Your industrial business may also have specific requirements based on overlays in City Plan. These could include:

Industrial amenity overlay
Critical infrastructure and movement network overlay (for medium, high and special industry)
Flood overlay (where in an area subject to flooding)
Coastal hazard overlay.

Know the industrial land use

Before you set up an industrial business on a premises, you need to find out which land use definition in City Plan applies to your proposed development.

You also need to check the thresholds that relate to your industry, such as noise and air emissions.

Industrial land uses can include:

Know the industry zones

City Plan categorises industrial land into zones and zone precincts based on the expected impacts. This ensures that industrial businesses are separated from other zones that contain sensitive land uses, including residential areas.

You need to be aware of zones and zone precincts before you set up an industrial business on a property. These may include:

Low impact industry zone
Industry (General industry A zone precinct)
Industry (General industry B zone precinct)
Industry (General industry C zone precinct)
Special industry zone
Industry investigation zone
Extractive industry zone
Specialised centre (Mixed industry and business zone precinct).

Important things to know

Industrial land uses are best located in industrial areas. Some industrial uses, such as extractive industry or special industry, need to be in zones specific to their use.

In some circumstances, non-industrial uses may be approved in industrial areas if they support the industry and workers, and don’t compromise the long-term functioning of the area.

What you need to do

Follow this process to get the relevant approvals before setting up an industrial business.

Determine the type of approval you need

You may need planning approval to set up an industrial business.

To find out if you need to lodge a development application for planning approval, phone Council on 07 3403 8888 and ask to speak to a Planning Information Officer.

Prepare and lodge a development application

Once you’ve determined the property details and relevant approvals, you can prepare your development application (if required).

You can submit your development application:

online
in person
by mail.

In some cases, you may be able to fast track your application.

Prepare and lodge a DA

If you need support, get advice from an engineer or Town Planner.

Note

You need to pay fees for your development application. Generally, Council will contact you with a fee quote after you’ve lodged your application.

After you submit

We will review and assess your development application.

We may ask you to supply more information during the assessment process.

During this time, you can check your application status.

Other things to consider

Other approvals

You may need to apply for additional approvals for your industrial business, such as an environmental authority for an Environmentally Relevant Activity, or an approval from a private building certifier to change the classification of the building under the National Construction Code.

More advice

You may need to get advice from Council about your warehouse if:

it requires planning approval
the premises are located within a neighbourhood plan or overlay area.

Phone our Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263).