Work on roads and footways
Brisbane City Council supports work on Council property such as roads and footways as part of construction work or business operations. Council regulates these activities to ensure public health and safety.
Find out the different types of work require approval and how to apply using the application/notice to work on Council property.
Related transactions
Mall area requirements
There are separate requirements for footpath dining or where works are within a mall area as illustrated in grey below.
Mall areas in Queen Street Mall
Mall areas in Fortitude Valley
When you need approval
You require approval to work on, or use, Council property, such as roads and footways, for the activities listed in the table.
| Construct or repair a driveway | For all commercial driveways and for residential driveways that require on-site inspection and assessment |
|---|---|
| Footway | To construct or repair a footpath |
| Deposit equipment and materials on the footway | Temporary placement of building materials on the footway, e.g. general landscaping supplies, shipping containers, industrial bin, construction site office, building materials, mini-skips, plant and machinery and temporary fences |
| Crossover kerb and channel | Temporary access to drive over the constructed kerb and channelling other than the driveway, e.g. house relocations, house construction, commercial development and plant and machinery |
| Excavate roadway or footway | Permit to open up or break the surface of any part of any street or footway, or to dig or remove any turf, sand, clay, soil or material from any part of any street or footway, for any lawful purpose - e.g. maintenance to utility services, construct infrastructure, geological drilling and roadway/footway enhancement If you are working on a roadway, you will also need to apply for a temporary lane and road closure. |
| Connect to Council stormwater drainage | Dig footway to lay drainage in order to connect to Council stormwater - e.g. connecting stormwater pipe/s to any of the following: kerb and channel, open drain, swale, enclosed drainage, stormwater gully or a culvert |
| Temporary use of footway (temporary stall) | To erect temporary structures such as tables and chairs on the footway - e.g. street stalls, stand/booth (for religious, charitable, educational or political purposes only) and footway closure. This does not include footpath dining. |
| Hoarding and gantry | To place a temporary fence around a building or structure under construction or repair, to erect temporary scaffolding or site sheds |
| Display or storage of goods on roadway or footway | Annual permit to display or store goods on a footway, but excludes driveway, deposit material and all road opening permits |
When approval not required
You do not require approval for depositing equipment and materials, or temporary use of a footway, for less than 48 hours when:
- it is outside the Brisbane Central Business District (CBD - refer to the Zone A - the principal centre (city centre) zone (PC1) as identified in the Brisbane City Plan 2014)
- the work is not on a state controlled main road.
You must leave the following distance from the property alignment or kerb clear at all times to allow for safe pedestrian passage:
- in residential areas - 1.2 metres
- in CBD or business areas - 1.8 metres (additional permit conditions may apply).
Fees
Council calculates the application fee based on the zoning of the adjoining property. To complete the application form, you’ll need to know the zoning of the property. Look up the property address on Brisbane City Plan 2014to find out which zone applies.
Council won’t process an application until such time the correct application fee is paid. In the event Council identifies the property is in a different zone to what was selected in the application form, you will be contacted. It’s important to select the correct zone category to avoid unnecessary delays.
| Application type | Application fee |
|---|---|
| Residential driveway that requires full assessment (including on-site inspection) | $252.85 |
| Residential driveway - self-assessable | $19.50 |
| Commercial driveway | $685.00 |
| Display or storage of goods on roadway or footway | $137.80 |
| Application type | Application fee Zone A and B | Application fee Zone C |
|---|---|---|
| Footway - construct or repair footpath | $338.00 | $169.00 |
| Crossover kerb and channel | $338.00 | $169.00 |
| Excavate the roadway/footway | $338.00 | $169.00 |
| Connect to Council stormwater drainage | $338.00 | $169.00 |
| Temporary use of footway | $338.00 | $169.00 |
| Deposit equipment or materials on the footway | $338.00 | $169.00 |
| Hoarding and gantry | $338.00 | $169.00 |
Charitable or religious organisations listed in Appendix A (a) and (b) of the schedule of fees and charges are exempt from this fee.
Permit fee
Following approval, a permit fee is payable for the following application types:
- temporary use of footway
- deposit equipment or materials on the footway
- hoarding and gantry.
Council calculates the permit fee using the following rates:
| Zone | Unit | Permit fee |
|---|---|---|
| Zone A - the principal centre (city centre) zone (PC1) as identified in the Brisbane City Plan 2014 (does not include the Queen Street Mall or the Valley Malls) | Each square metre of space utilised under the permit per week* | $10.50 |
| Zone B - the principal centre (regional centre) zone (PC2) or major centre zone (MC), district centre (corridor) (DC2), high density residential (HDR) and mixed use (MU) as identified in the Brisbane City Plan 2014 | Each square metre of space utilised under the permit per week* | $5.00 |
| Zone C - other areas of Brisbane as identified in the Brisbane City Plan 2014 | Each square metre of space utilised under the permit per week* | $2.95 |
*Each applicable permit fee will incur a minimum one month charge which equates to 5 weeks.
The display or storage of goods on road or footway permit fee is calculated using the following rates:
| Zone | Unit | Permit fee for display or storage of goods on road or footway |
|---|---|---|
| Zone A - the principal centre (city centre) zone (PC1) as identified in the Brisbane City Plan 2014 (does not include the Queen Street Mall or the Valley Malls) | Each square metre of space occupied under the permit each year | $546.95 |
| Zone B - the principal centre (regional centre) zone (PC2) or major centre zone (MC), district centre (corridor) (DC2), high density residential (HDR) and mixed use (MU) as identified in the Brisbane City Plan 2014 | Each square metre of space occupied under the permit each year | $247.05 |
| Zone C - other areas of Brisbane as identified in the Brisbane City Plan 2014 | Each square metre of space occupied under the permit each year | $147.90 |
How to apply
1. Check City Plan 2014 Online
Find out what zone applies for your application using the online Brisbane City Plan 2014 mapping tool.
2. Supporting documents
Prepare the attachments required for your online application as Word, PDF or JPG files. Attachments may include:
- site plan sketch (required):
- identifying the location of the proposed work
- relevant dimensions of any proposed temporary structures
- location and extent of any proposed earthworks (cut, trench and/or filling)
- how pedestrians will navigate around the proposed footway use
- approved plans (optional)
- site photos (optional)
- traffic management plan (optional).
Please note you may be asked to supply additional information during the assessment process such as pedestrian management plans. A condition of your footway permit may also require you to submit information prior to carrying out works such as photographic evidence of any existing damage to the footway.
3. Application/notice to work on Council property
Complete the Application/notice to work on Council property online form, and:
- upload your supporting documents
- pay the application fee using Visa or MasterCard.
Alternatively, you can use the hard copy form.
Council can process a well-made application within five working days where:
- the application is for:
- temporary use of footway; or
- depositing equipment or materials on a footway; or
- display or storage of goods on a footway; or
- excavation of a footway;
- the application is not associated with a Council issued development permit; and
- the application is for a suburban location.
The application must meet the guidelines and all applicable fees are paid.
For all other applications, that are incomplete or require further information, it is recommended the application is lodged 20 working days prior to the proposed commencement date.
Construction work zone application
Some areas of Brisbane have restricted space for construction works. If needed, Council can create a construction work zone to assist with loading and unloading equipment and materials for a work site by temporarily occupying the road. You require a permit for construction work zones or construction loading zones.
More information
For further information, phone Council's Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263).