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Dual occupancy

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Check the planning requirements for a duplex development. Find out if you need to submit a development application.

What do I need to know before getting started?

Dual occupancy is the term used in Brisbane City Plan 2014 to refer to duplex developments. Dual occupancy is defined in City Plan as either:

  • the residential use of premises containing 2 dwellings on one lot (whether or not attached), or
  • 2 dwellings on separate lots that share common property.

Before you start any work, you should: 

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Subdividing land

Plumbing and drainage

Heritage and character properties

What types of approval do I need?

Planning approval

For planning approval, your proposed dual occupancy development will be either code assessable or impact assessable. 

If your project is impact assessable, you’ll need to lodge a development application that requires public notification prior to Council making a decision.

A code assessable development is expected development that doesn’t require public notification. You’ll need to: 

  • receive planning approval before starting any activity or development. 

Your dual occupancy may be code assessable development if your property is in these zones:

In this zone, a dual occupancy is code assessable if no higher than:

  • 3 storeys and 11.5 m in building height in the Up to 3 storeys zone precinct, or
  • 3 storeys and 11.5 m in building height in the 2 or 3 storey mix zone precinct:
    • where the site has frontage to a road with a reserve width of 15.5 m or more, and
    • any part of the site is within 400 m walking distance of a railway or busway station, or
  • 2 storeys and 9.5 m in building height in the 2 storey mix precinct.

The proposal should comply with the criteria outlined in the:

In this zone, a dual occupancy is code assessable if in the Infill housing zone precinct, where:

  • any house constructed in 1946 or earlier is retained
  • no greater than 2 storeys and 9.5 m in building height.

The proposal should comply with the criteria outlined in the:

In this zone, a dual occupancy is code assessable if no greater than:

  • 5 storeys, or
  • the building height where specified in a relevant neighbourhood plan.

The proposal should comply with the criteria outlined in the:

information outline

Note

Your project may be subject to a different category of assessment and additional assessment benchmarks may apply if the site is located in: 

  • another zone
  • a neighbourhood plan area
  • an overlay.

Lodge a development application

If your project is code assessable, you’ll need to lodge a development application and your project will be assessed against the relevant codes.

If your project is impact assessable, your development application will require public notification prior to Council making a decision.

Follow our step-by-step guide to prepare and lodge your development application.

Building approval 

Once you have planning approval for a dual occupancy, you’ll need building approval.

Contact a licensed building certifier to organise building approval. You’ll need to supply scaled and detailed plans prepared by a draftsperson or architect.

 

What happens after I lodge my development application?

Once we’ve received your development application, we‘ll check it: 

  • complies with properly made requirements
  • includes all the relevant documents.

A fee quote will then be issued for payment. Council uses a points system to calculate development application fees, which can vary depending on your project.

Application assessment

Properly made applications proceed through an assessment process in set stages.

If your application is not properly made, you’ll receive an action notice and have 20 days to comply. 

You must let Council know that the action notice has been complied with. We’ll consider whether the action notice has been fulfilled and issue a Confirmation Notice if satisfied that the application is properly made.   

If you’re unsure, request information and advice. 

Keep track of your development application

You can check the status of your development application on our development and search tracking tool, Development.i. 

Look up your development application by number or location and select 'Details'. The status is under 'Progress'.

Information for building certifiers

Under the Planning Act 2016, Council must hold records of building construction approvals and certification information. These documents will be kept for a specified period of time and made available for inspection. 

A detailed list of required lodgement materials is outlined in Planning Regulation 2017 and s86 of the Building Act 1975.

You can lodge building certification documents online for a fee of $72.30.

Sign in to the Services Brisbane for Business portal to lodge your building certification documents.

Lodge documents

You can also lodge building documents at any Customer Centre. Phone Council’s Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263) to ask about the fees for lodging building documents in person.