Planning guidelines

Use these guidelines to ensure your development proposal complies with the Brisbane City Plan 2014.

Any queries or feedback about this page can be emailed to Council.

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Council offers free Talk to a Planner sessions to answer questions about how the City Plan relates to your property. Book your session now!

Find what you need

Brisbane City Council, through Brisbane City Plan 2014, incorporates Queensland Government policies with Council's intention for the development of the city over the next 20 years. Find out if you need Council approval.

The Infrastructure design planning scheme policy (PSP) identifies information that Council may request for a development application. It includes guidelines on how to satisfy assessment criteria, standard drawings and specifications for infrastructure provisions. Includes such things as stormwater drainage, public footway upgrades and public utilities.

Standard drawings show construction layouts and details of infrastructure assets that are acceptable to Council.

Reference specifications for civil engineering work show the requirements acceptable to Council for work to be constructed on behalf of or to be contributed to Council.

The Infrastructure Installation and Construction Resource Manual outlines the requirements for construction, installation and handover of Council's infrastructure assets.

The Strategic Asset Management team has prepared research findings about stormwater pipes and Council's pavement management system.

Urban Utilities coordinates water and sewerage infrastructure within the Brisbane City Council area. These guidelines outline Urban Ultilites' requirements (including supplementary manuals and standard drawings) for water and sewerage infrastructure.

Industry environmental guides

Council is developing a series of industry environmental guides. These guides offer advice to help industries in Brisbane meet the requirements of the Brisbane City Plan 2014 when:

  • building
  • upgrading
  • extending or altering premises
  • operating an industrial activity (and requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1994). 

For more information, download the documents:

For help with these guides, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.

Construction management guidelines

The guidelines for Brisbane Central Business District and City Frame provides awareness and assists construction companies to better plan for, and factor in, the construction management for current and future major projects' in the inner city. 

For more information, download the Construction Management Guidelines - CBD and City Frame (Word - 1.04Mb).

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Brisbane City Council acknowledges this Country and its Traditional Custodians. We pay our respects to the Elders, those who have passed into the Dreaming; those here today; those of tomorrow.