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Housing supply​

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Discover how we’re helping to boost housing supply and diversity in response to the city’s population growth.

Why does Brisbane need more homes by 2046?

Brisbane is growing rapidly, and by 2046, we will need around 210,800 new homes to support a larger and more diverse population. This growth is driven by people moving here from interstate and overseas, as well as natural population increases.

Household sizes are also changing, with more people living alone or in smaller family groups. This shift means we need a greater variety of housing options to meet diverse needs.

Single people and couples without children now make up more than half of all households, yet less than a third of available housing offers one- or two-bedroom options. At the same time, our ageing population is driving demand for downsizing and multigenerational living, key trends we need to plan for.

To support this growth sustainably, Council is delivering these key initiatives:

Together, these initiatives focus on delivering well-located, affordable, and diverse housing options that help avoid urban sprawl, protect our green spaces, and reduce long commutes.

Have your say: More Homes, Sooner review

Learn how planning rules are proposed to be updated to support increased housing supply and choice, while protecting neighbourhood character in our More Homes, Sooner — Low-medium density residential zone review.

Have your say by Friday 20 March 2026.

Learn more
Outside view of multi story apartment building at West End

Brisbane's Sustainable Growth Strategy

Brisbane is a safe, vibrant, green and prosperous city valued for its friendly character and subtropical lifestyle.  

Our popularity and growth have created housing pressures. As the region continues to grow, housing choice will need to reflect our changing communities.

Brisbane's Sustainable Growth Strategy is Council's housing and homelessness strategy.

It outlines our initiatives to address the key challenges for our growing city:

  • keeping Brisbane affordable 
  • achieving sustainable development goals and protecting Brisbane’s rich biodiversity
  • managing sustained population growth and changes in established and emerging communities 
  • planning for housing in areas that maximises city-shaping infrastructure 
  • delivering infrastructure to meet future population growth
  • building new, well-designed housing that meets the needs of current and future communities, stage-of-life changes and people with specific needs
  • responding to housing needs during and after major events such as pandemics or floods
  • supporting our economy and enhancing our lifestyle.

Download Brisbane's Sustainable Growth Strategy to learn more.

Key priorities

The strategy addresses 4 key priorities.

Council facilitates the delivery of housing, associated infrastructure and supporting services that reflect the community’s values and expectations.

What are we already doing?

All residents should have equal access to safe, affordable, well-designed and conveniently located housing that matches their stage of life and circumstances.

What are we already doing?

  • Supporting community housing providers to deliver affordable housing development in the city.
  • Supporting multigenerational family households by enabling secondary dwellings (e.g. granny flats) to be constructed within residential areas.
  • Facilitating a wide range of homelessness support initiatives.
  • Supporting changes to body corporate legislation that will allow for the redevelopment of older residential accommodation.
  • Investigating housing opportunities for single occupant or couple households.
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Incentives for building rentals

Under the Brisbane Build-to-Rent Incentive Policy, Council will defer infrastructure charges for up to 5 years for new large-scale, multiple-dwelling developments. 

Until 1 October 2026, eligible developments in targeted zones can apply for a deferral.

New housing for our community should be focused in the most appropriate locations for access to transport, services, recreation and employment opportunities.

What are we already doing?

  • Coordinating land use and infrastructure planning to ensure developing areas are well serviced by road and stormwater infrastructure and have a high level of access to public and active transport, open space and community facilities.
  • Implementing new precinct planning in suburban and inner-city locations in consultation with communities to deliver localised outcomes, maximise existing transport and identify future potential infrastructure that supports the community.
  • Delivering suburban upgrades to create vibrant centres for local communities.

New residential buildings should be designed to suit Brisbane’s climate and lifestyle.

What are we already doing?

  • Supporting quality design that considers Brisbane’s subtropical climate, biodiversity and landscape through our design guides.
  • Encouraging generous balconies and communal areas in new residential buildings to support outdoor living through City Plan provisions. 
  • Introducing sustainable design outcomes for new homes to support outdoor living, retain trees and greenery and contribute to residents’ privacy.
  • Embedding subtropical design principles into City Plan to ensure new residential buildings are appropriately designed to suit our climate and lifestyle.

Brisbane's Housing Supply Action Plan 

The Brisbane Housing Supply Action Plan takes targeted actions to address short-to-medium-term housing supply. 

It includes a series of actions to make it easier for industry to build more housing sooner and address housing supply challenges. 

The plan helps to reduce construction costs and encourage faster development through:

  • reduced or deferred infrastructure charges
  • new planning strategies
  • fast-tracked assessment
  • advocacy for Queensland and Australian planning reforms and support for more housing.

Download Brisbane's Housing Supply Action Plan to learn more.

Brisbane Housing Supply Incentive Policy

As part of the Brisbane Housing Supply Action Plan, reduced infrastructure charges are available for developments of eligible multiple dwellings in identified, well-serviced growth areas.

Download the Brisbane Housing Supply Incentive Policy to learn more.

For eligible developments, Council will enter into an Infrastructure Agreement under the Planning Act 2016 to reduce the infrastructure charges payable. 

The infrastructure charges reduction will be applied:

  • to the eligible component of development
  • at the time of payment 
  • before the application of any demand credits, discounts or infrastructure offsets.

For more information, read the Brisbane Housing Supply Incentive Policy.

Eligibility criteria – 100% charge reduction for Community Housing Providers

To be eligible your development must meet all relevant criteria, including being:

  • an approved multiple dwelling or designation for social or affordable housing
  • owned and managed by a registered community housing provider on a long-term basis as social or affordable housing.

Note: eligible dwellings do not have a bedroom limit, and may be located in any zone.

Eligibility criteria – 50% or 75% reduction for any eligible development

To be eligible, your development must be:

  • approved for a material change of use for a multiple dwelling use by 30 June 2025 (does not apply to change representations, a change application, an extension application or an appeal)
  • a dwelling with no more than 2 bedrooms
  • located within City Plan's:
    • High density residential zone
    • Principal centre zone
    • Major centre zone
    • Mixed use zone, or 
    • any zone if delivered by a community housing provider
  • proposed but not yet under construction. 

Note: If you are not a Community Housing provider, applications must be made to Council before 1 April 2026.

Complete the Infrastructure Agreement Request Notice to apply for a reduction. Include supporting information to demonstrate your eligibility.

Submit your completed form by emailing Council.

Brisbane Build-to-Rent Incentive Policy

The Brisbane Build-to-Rent Incentive Policy makes large-scale multiple dwelling developments in approved locations eligible for deferred infrastructure charges. 

Under the policy, a build-to-rent development is a new, purpose-built, large-scale, multiple-dwelling residential development. All dwellings in the building are retained in one ownership for the purpose of being managed for a minimum of 10 years as long-term rental housing.

Download the Brisbane Build-to-Rent Incentive Policy to learn more.

To be eligible, your development must be:

  • approved for a material change of use for a multiple dwelling use by 30 June 2025 
  • located within City Plan's 
    • High density residential zone
    • Principal centre zone
    • Major centre zone
    • Mixed use zone  
  • used entirely for build-to-rent purposes (applies to the residential component of the building). 

For eligible developments, Council will enter into an Infrastructure Agreement under the Planning Act 2016 to defer the payment of the infrastructure charges for up to 5 years for the build-to-rent component of the development. 

The deferred charges must be paid in annual instalments once the eligible development is in use.

For more information, read the Brisbane Build-to-Rent Incentive Policy.

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Note

Our special assessment unit streamlines assessment of priority development applications that support Council's housing initiatives.

For advice on your development application, request Council assistance. 

Complete an Infrastructure Agreement Request Notice to apply for a deferral. Include supporting information to demonstrate your eligibility.

Submit your completed form by emailing Council.

More Homes, Sooner: Low-medium density residential zone review

We are proposing changes to building heights, lot sizes and on-site car parking requirements to reduce costs and make it easier to build new homes in the Low-medium density residential (LMR) zone.

The LMR zone makes up 14 per cent of Brisbane’s residential areas and includes small parts of a range of suburbs.

The zone already allows for townhouses, units, apartments and row houses and is generally in locations close to public transport, shopping centres and other services. The proposed changes will support the construction of more of these types of homes in the right places.

Download the fact sheet and guide.

Have your say

Amendments are proposed to Brisbane City Plan 2014 as part of the LMR zone review.

Consultation is now open and your feedback is important. Have your say on the proposed amendments from Friday 20 February until Friday 20 March 2026.

Learn more about the amendment packages:

Why do we need a zone review?

Household sizes are changing, and while more than half of all households are made up of single people or couples without children, 71% of Brisbane homes have three or more bedrooms. Many people can’t find homes that suit their needs or stage of life and are looking for smaller, more manageable homes that keep them connected to the neighbourhoods they know and love.

Locating housing near public transport and shops creates inclusive communities, optimises infrastructure and services and contributes to thriving businesses. The LMR zone offers an opportunity to deliver well-located housing for key workers, families and downsizers near shops and transport.

The LMR zone makes up about 14% of the city and includes small parts of a range of suburbs. Download a map of the LMR zone.

LMR areas currently feature a variety of housing types, including 2 or 3 storey duplexes, six-pack apartments, row houses and townhouses, and are typically located close to public transport corridors, shopping centres and other services.

Under current rules, the construction of new homes in low-medium density residential areas has declined significantly, from around 1,100 homes annually to just 445 in 2023.

Confirm details about your property

Use City Plan online to find out the local planning scheme requirements that apply to your property. They determine what types of development is permitted on your property and the development guidelines that will apply.

You'll need to confirm what zone your property is in and if: 

  • located in a neighbourhood plan area
  • subject to an overlay.

Learn about how to use City Plan.

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Note

City Plan includes overlays for local heritage and character properties. You should also check if your property is listed separately on the Queensland Heritage Register.

The changes are incremental, with a change from the current maximum 2-3 storeys in some areas to 3 storeys, and up to 4 storeys near commercial centres and good public transport.

The proposed changes include new minimum setbacks between 3 and 4 storey buildings to detached houses, minimum frontage widths (to allow for street trees and front gardens), and controls over the amount of the site that a new building can cover.

More information

Register to receive updates on housing strategies, and planning and development in Brisbane.

Register online now

You can also:

  • email Council
  • phone Council on 07 3403 8888
  • write to:
    Strategic Planning
    Brisbane City Council
    GPO Box 1434
    Brisbane Qld 4001

Frequently asked questions

Under the Brisbane Housing Supply Incentive Policy, Council will reduce infrastructure charges and offer specialist fast-tracked assessment for eligible developments in targeted areas. 

The aim of the policy is to help get more homes built sooner by reducing the cost of constructing the most needed developments.