Facility leases for community organisations
Use our venues for your community organisation. Discover your options for leases, licences and facility tenders.
About Council facilities for community organisations
Community organisations enrich and enhance life in our city and local neighbourhoods.
Council allocates designated land and facilities to the Brisbane community via leases, licences or other tenure arrangements for sport, recreation, cultural and community purposes.
Not-for-profit groups can lease Council facilities to host events, workshop and meetings.
Leasing Council facilities
Your organisation can access designated land and facilities for your activities via our leases, licences and other tenure arrangements.
We offer a range of options to help organisations find suitable venues and tenures in their community.
Whether you’re a new club starting out or a seasoned society, follow these steps to access leases for Council facilities.
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Register your interest.
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Understand the types of tenures available.
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Review current facility tenders.
Register your interest
When land and facilities become available, we open applications to eligible not-for-profit community organisations through our community facility tender process.
If you’re eligible, you can apply for a lease or licence agreement for the land and/or facility through this process or upon invitation from Council.
Eligibility criteria
Current and prospective tenants of Council facilities must:
- be an incorporated association or equivalent
- be a not-for-profit community-based organisation
- have open membership (constitutions or articles must state that membership is open to the public)
- demonstrate how you will meet the financial obligations of the tenure arrangement
- maintain appropriate insurances including $20 million public liability insurance for the term of the agreement
- conduct activities that meet Council objectives and that are not primarily for purposes such as political gain, places of worship, commercial gain or illegal activities.
- have a damage policy covering full replacement value of all buildings and fixtures (for leases only).
Complete our online form to register your organisation’s details and the type of facility you need.
A lease is an exclusive right to use land and facilities for an agreed term and purpose. This enables you to:
- make improvements and/or develop infrastructure at the facility
- have sub-tenants and/or casual user groups.
We offer a standard term lease of 4 years. This is registered with Titles Queensland.
In rare cases, you may be able to negotiate a longer term.
To apply for a lease, you must first register your interest. When a facility becomes available you may be invited to submit a proposal.
A standard licence gives you permission to enter and use the premises for an agreed purpose and term (normally one year).
If you have a licence agreement, you can’t sub-license or share occupancy of the premises or any part of the premises with any other person.
To apply for a licence, you must first register your interest. When a facility becomes available, you may be invited to submit a proposal.
We have a number of sites across the city suitable for seasonal use only.
These sites are generally not suitable for development and usually have limited infrastructure.
A seasonal licence is not an interest in the land and does not normally contain a right of renewal. It provides an organisation the use of a site on specified dates and times during a sports season.
Your organisation may be permitted to sublet or share occupancy of your premises with another group or person.
Find out how to obtain written Council approval for a sub-tenancy or other arrangement for regular use via the Community Leasing Information Portal.
Current community facility tenders
We open tenders to maximise the value of our community venues to local neighbourhoods.
When a facility becomes available, interested organisations are invited to submit a proposal.
We will outline what type of tenure is available for the facility (e.g. lease or licence) and negotiate with the best-placed applicant.
Currently, there are no open community facility tenders.
Obligations and responsibilities as a tenant
Anyone responsible for managing and maintaining your premises should understand the terms and conditions of your agreement.
You can request a copy of your current agreement via the Community Leasing Information Portal or by phoning Council on 07 3403 8888.
You may also need other Council or Queensland Government licences and permits for your operations. They include liquor, gaming, food, and event permits.
If you have a lease or licence, your responsibilites are to:
- pay your bills
- hold current insurance policies, including $20 million public liability insurance and building insurance (if you have a building)
- keep the premises clean and in good repair
- repair all damage caused by the lessee or the use of the premises
- conduct regular maintenance and repairs (e.g. replace light globes, cut grass, paint, clean and remove rubbish)
- conduct annual safety checks and inspections
- appoint a community liaison officer and develop a process to resolve complaints
- comply with all local, state and federal laws
- use the facility for the purpose outlined in your lease
- obtain prior written consent from Council to make any changes or undertake any building work, display signs or notices, erect or remove fencing, trim or remove trees and shrubs, or carry out earthworks to the premises
- seal and maintain any areas of the premises used for parking
- complete the annual Community Facilities Census online form and provide copies of certificates of currency, licences, annual financial report and constitution
- meet with Council to discuss tenure renewal
- respond to Council requests for information.
If you have a seasonal licence, your responsibilities are to:
- pay your seasonal licence fees
- hold current insurance policies, including $20 million public liability insurance
- use the facility for the purpose outlined in your seasonal licence
- make sure the premises are clean
- respond to Council requests for information.
As a tenant, you must:
- tell Council about any changes or plans you want to carry out to your leased premises
- contact Council if you believe the sustainability of your organisation is under threat
- have Council approval before you can:
- enter a sub-use or other hire agreement
- transfer your lease to another organisation
- undertake any works to the community lease site including any building works, fencing, signage, earthworks, and/or damage or removal to any tree or shrub
- hold a festival or event
- apply for a liquor/gaming/health licence
- apply to mortgage the lease
- introduce new sports or activities on a regular basis
- see to amend the lease
- complete the annual Community Facilities Census online form.
Closed landfill management
Council tenants, including sub-lessees on closed landfill sites, are responsible for protecting their members and other users of the site from environmental and health risks.
In most cases, Council will identify if the lease/licence area is a closed landfill site in the lease terms and conditions. However, in some cases, contamination may only be found when site works and excavations commence.
Download the guide for advice on how to manage a closed landfill site.
Shipping containers
Council generally does not support the placement of shipping containers for storage on a Council lease site.
You may apply to place a shipping container onsite as a temporary measure for up to 12 months while a permanent storage solution is found. You will need to obtain approval and secure funding to build a permanent storage facility during this temporary period. Shipping containers must sit on a hard surface (e.g. concrete footings or slab) and be secured or tied down.
As part of the application for works process, Council will notify you of any other requirements you may need to fulfil. This could include obtaining the following forms.
- Form 15 - Compliance certificate for building design or specification. This form is provided by a building certifier. It should include design drawings outlining the structural design of the footings or tie downs by a Registered Professional Engineer Queensland (RPEQ).
- Form 16 - Inspection certificate. This form is provided by a building certifier. It signs off on compliance with the design after installation and should be provided to Council upon completion of the works.
At the end of the temporary approval period, you as a tenant are responsible for all costs associated with the removal of the shipping container. This includes any footings or tie-downs used to secure it.
To request the consent of Council as landlord to have a temporary shipping container on your leased site, complete the application for works.
Community Leasing Information Portal
If your community organisation is a lessee, you can use the Community Leasing Information Portal (CLIP) to:
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request a copy of your agreement
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view the obligations of your lease
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submit a general enquiry about your lease
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lodge an application for works on your lease site
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update your organisation's details
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update pool facility usage (for pool lessees).
Download our guides for help with registering for CLIP or navigating the portal.
Frequently asked questions
Starting or managing a community organisation is rewarding but can also be daunting. No matter where you are in your journey, there’s support available.
Get help to kickstart or manage your community organisation with tips, guides and information.
Helpful resources include:
- Starting and running your community organisation: A guide
- online resources for setting up a charity or non-government organisation
- Community Door's tips for starting a community service organisation.
You may be able to establish a new facility on existing Council land. To enquire, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.