Multi-unit dwellings
With continued population growth, multi-unit dwellings will help to meet the housing needs of Brisbane residents in the future. People from all ages, life stages and income levels live in multi-unit dwellings.
Multi-unit dwellings include:
- apartments and units
- boarding houses
- retirement villages
- nursing homes
- aged care accommodation
- residential development for people with special needs
- hostels and other institutional accommodation
Types of approvals
If you are considering building a multi-unit dwelling, you will need:
- planning approval from Brisbane City Council
- building approval from a building certifer
Proposed multi-unit dwelling developments with 10 units or less may be suitable for assessment using the RiskSMART process.
Planning approval
City Plan divides Brisbane into a number of areas. As multi-unit dwellings are built at higher densities than standard houses and can therefore have greater impacts on the local area (for example noise, car parking, traffic movements), some areas of Brisbane are preferred for multi-unit dwellings.
To find out Brisbane preferred areas, as well as the criteria for multi-unit dwellings or whether a development application is required, refer to multi-unit dwelling criteria.
Impact assessable applications
Once Council has made an initial assessment of your application, and you have provided any additional information requested, you must publicly advertise the proposal. This involves:
- placing a sign on your property for a specified period
- placing a notice in a local newspaper; and
- providing written advice to all adjoining property owners
This is a requirement of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009Council will consider any submissions received in response to public notification during the assessment process.
Application hints
Applications for multi-unit dwellings can be combined with other applications such as single unit dwellings.
Properly made public submissions received during the notification stage have appeal rights to the Planning and Environment Court.
Technical reports are often required for this type of application and it is recommended you contact a town planning consultant for help.
State requirements
State requirements are contained within the Queensland Development Code - general health, safety and amenity, M.P. 5.7 - Residential services building standards (previously Part 20).
