Accepted development, subject to requirements

Certain types of projects do not need a development application but must comply with Brisbane City Council’s planning rules, including applicable codes. These projects are referred to as ‘accepted development, subject to requirements’.

If your project is accepted development, subject to requirements, you do not need anything in writing from Council to commence the activity, provided you carry out a self-assessment against the relevant code to ensure your proposal complies.

Whether a project is accepted development, subject to requirements depends on what zone your property is in and whether the property is subject to a neighbourhood plan or overlays. Find out these key facts about your property and then check the common residential projects or business projects to see what approval is required.

A proposal that is identified in Brisbane City Plan 2014 as able to be accepted development, subject to requirements, and will not require a development application if it complies with the:

  • definition for that use
  • specific criteria in the relevant level of assessment table for the zone and specified acceptable outcomes in the applicable zone codes
  • specific criteria in the level of assessment tables of any relevant neighbourhood plans and specified acceptable outcomes in the applicable Neighbourhood plan code
  • specific criteria in the level of assessment tables of any relevant overlays and specified acceptable outcomes in any relevant overlay codes.

Note: the category of assessment in a neighbourhood plan overrides a category of assessment in a zone. A category of assessment in an overlay also overrides a category of assessment in a zone or neighbourhood plan, unless otherwise stated in the relevant table of assessment.

It is important to remember that even if your project is accepted development, subject to requirements and does not need a development application, a building approval may still be required.

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