Roads and footpaths
A footway, also commonly known as a nature strip or road reserve. It is the strip of land from the front property boundary to the kerb and channel and includes the footpath.
You need a footway permit for doing certain activities on Council’s footpath and roads, and on your driveway.
Guidelines
You must get a footway permit if you're:
- building a structure on the footway, for example erecting hoarding and gantry
- building, modifying or repairing a driveway
- connecting to Council’s stormwater drainage
- leaving equipment and or materials on the footway:
- for longer than 48 hours
- that stops pedestrians using the footpath
- that is on a main road or within the Central Business District
- excavating/digging up the road or footpath
- using heavy vehicles to cross the footway, for example house removal
- closing part or all of the footway
- placing a temporary structure on the footway, for example a stall, booth or stand for a registered, religious, charitable, educational or political organisation
The Natural Assets Local Law doesn't allow you to put garden beds on the footpath, unless it's:
- part of Council's street planting plan
- approved under another local law or subordinate local law
If you are unsure whether you need a permit, download the following fact sheets or email Council or phone 07 3403 8888.
Connecting to a Council stormwater drain 
(PDF - 48kb)
Constructing or repairing a footpath (PDF - 188kb)
Crossing over a Council kerb and channel (PDF - 143kb)
Depositing equipment or materials on a footway (PDF - 140kb)
Excavating Council property (PDF - 156kb)
Keeping planter boxes on Council footways (PDF - 114kb)
Temporary use of a Council footway (PDF - 131 kb)
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for free.
How to apply
- Check the above fact sheets to see if you need to attach any extra information to your application. Some applications require you to attach drawings and a completed checklist.
- Find out what fee you need to pay with your application. See footways fees and charges.
- Complete an application/notice to work on Council property form.
Get this form:- download Application/notice to work on Council property form (PDF - 39kb)
- at a Customer Service Centre or Regional Business Centre
- phone Council on 07 3403 8888 and ask for it to be mailed to you
- download
- Lodge your application, permit fee and any other information requested in the relevant fact sheet at a Regional Business Centre.
This application is not a permit. Council will assess the application. Council will contact you to acknowledge receipt of your application and give you an indication of how long the assessment process will take. If Council approves it, you’ll be issued a permit with relevant conditions.
Temporary lane or road closure
If you want to temporarily close a road, lane or Council parking bay, you need to submit the following:
- Temporary lane and road closure assessment application (PDF - 72kb).
- Application for permit to occupy road (work zone) (PDF - 41kb).
- A Traffic Control Plan detailing your proposed road/lane closure.
You can download the latest version of Adobe Reader for free.
The fee for a road or lane closure application is $119 (GST exempt) plus any installation costs, including lost revenue from Pay 'n' Display meters. Applicants will be advised of the full costs after evaluation of the application.
The application can be:
- sent by email
- faxed to 07 3403 9616
- mailed to:
Brisbane City Council
Traffic Management Section
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane Qld 4001
You must then get approval from Queensland Police Service .
Permament lane or road closure
If you want to permamently close a road:
- Contact the Queensland State Department of Natural Resources and Water to make a permament road closure application.
- The department will advise you of their process and fees.
- The department will then forward the application to Council for Counil's view on the application. (The department may also seek views form other agencies it thinks relevant)
- Council will asses the permanent road closure application and provide its final position to the department. Council will charge you a fee for doing this. Council's fee is $1,290.
- The department will make the final decision about the permanent road closure application.
- The department will communicate its final decision to you.
Relevant links
Department of Natural Resources and Water - Application for road closure fact sheet
Department of Natural Resources and Water - Application for road closure
