Infrastructure charges
Brisbane City Council levies infrastructure charges as part of the development assessment process. Charges apply when a subdivision (reconfiguring a lot), material change of use or carrying out of building work occurs, generating extra demand on trunk infrastructure networks.
- Council's current infrastructure charges
- Council’s past infrastructure charges instruments
- Infrastructure demand credits and discounts
- Infrastructure offset and refunds
- Reductions
- Deferred charges incentive for build-to-rent developments
- Incentive payment for green and energy efficient buildings
- Incentive payment for universal housing design
- Expired infrastructure charges reduction initiatives
- Request for calculations
- Billing and payment process
- Records of infrastructure charges
- Infrastructure agreements
Related transactions
Charges collected or assets constructed contribute to the provision of essential trunk infrastructure to service new development. Trunk infrastructure is significant infrastructure that supports large areas or catchments. This includes major stormwater pipes for an entire neighbourhood. Council manages three networks:
- transport
- public parks and land for community facilities
- stormwater.
Since 1 July 2014, Urban Utilities has responsibility for receiving, assessing, providing advice and approving applications. Applications are for the connection, disconnection or alteration to our water and sewerage networks. Refer to fact sheets two and three on the Urban Utilities website.
For enquiries relating to infrastructure offsets for water supply and sewerage networks, phone Urban Utilities on 13 26 57.
Council's current infrastructure charges
Council levies infrastructure charges under the Brisbane Infrastructure Charges Resolution (Charges Resolution). Council's current Charges Resolution is the Brisbane Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No. 12) 2023, which commenced on 3 July 2023.
The increases in infrastructure charges only affect development approvals given on and from 3 July 2023. Any infrastructure charges notices given on or before 30 June 2023 will not be impacted by this change. Please refer to Schedule 2 of the Charges Resolution for further information.
Key changes
Key changes compared to the previous Charges Resolution include:
- increased infrastructure charges in accordance with the Queensland Government’s Planning Act 2016 and Planning Regulation 2017
- amendments to align with changes to the planning framework including the Planning Regulation 2017 and the Minister’s Guidelines and Rules
- introduction of a reduced rooming accommodation infrastructure charge rate for bedrooms that are not in a suite to support a range of rooming and student accommodation uses in Brisbane
- amendments to the definition of suite to clarify and support rooming accommodation uses meeting this definition. In circumstances where the use does not meet this definition it will be charged using the reduced rate for a bedroom that is not within a suite
- clarification that indexation will apply at the time of payment for all new development approvals.
Note: implementation of indexation commenced under the Brisbane Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No. 11) 2022 for new development approvals issued on and from 23 June 2023. This does not apply to changes to existing development approvals if they were originally approved prior to the 23 June 2023.
Download the:
For a summary of the current charges, refer to Brisbane infrastructure charges.
Council's past infrastructure charges instruments
Details of previous infrastructure charges instruments are as follows:
Historical development application infrastructure charges
Historical development application infrastructure charges
Infrastructure demand credits and discounts
Demand credits
Demand credits
You may receive a demand credit for the demand placed upon the local government trunk infrastructure networks generated by existing lawful development, previous lawful development, or existing lots or other development on the premises if the development can be carried out lawfully without the need for a further development permit (as applicable).
See section 16 of the Charges Resolution for more information.
Applicants seeking a demand credit as described above must complete the prescribed form B and checklist B.
Discounts
Discounts
You may receive a discount for infrastructure contributions previously paid (subject to eligibility requirements).
See Part 3 of the Charges Resolution for more information.
Applicants seeking a discount for a prescribed financial contribution must complete the prescribed form A and checklist A.
Infrastructure offset and refunds
An infrastructure offset may relate to an item of trunk infrastructure (land or works) identified in Council's Local Government Infrastructure Plan. This may be provided in lieu of payment of some infrastructure charges.
For infrastructure charges levied from 30 June 2014, Council generally determines infrastructure offsets and refunds in accordance with the Charges Resolutions (No. 4 or after) (see table above). For these development approvals, the relevant details are included in the Infrastructure Charges Notice (ICN).
When you make a submission to Council regarding infrastructure charges offsets and refunds, submit a prescribed form.
For infrastructure charges levied between 1 July 2011 and 29 June 2014, Council generally determines infrastructure offsets and refunds in accordance with the Charges Resolutions (No. 1, 2 or 3) (see table above). For these development approvals, an offset or refund may be agreed through an Infrastructure Agreement (IA).
For more information regarding offsets and refunds under the Charges Resolutions (No. 4 or after), refer to Part 4 of the Charges Resolution.
Charges reduction for eligible community organisations
Council has continued its initiative to provide financial assistance to eligible community organisations through reduced infrastructure charges. To apply for the charges reduction, submit an eligible organisations infrastructure charges reduction request notice, when lodging a development application with Council.
Download the:
- Infrastructure charges reduction for eligible organisations factsheet (Word - 116kb)
- Eligible organisations infrastructure charges reduction request notice (PDF - 87kb).
Deferred charges incentive for build-to-rent developments
Through Brisbane’s Sustainable Growth Strategy it has been identified that an incentive was needed to deliver greater supply of build-to-rent residential accommodation to meet the needs of our growing and evolving city.
The Brisbane Build-to-Rent Incentive Policy (the policy) will support the delivery of large-scale multiple dwelling developments in appropriate locations approved by Council.
Under the policy, a build-to-rent development is a new purpose-built large scale multiple dwelling residential development in which 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.
Key eligibility criteria under the policy includes development:
- approved for a material change of use for a multiple dwelling use by 30 June 2025
- within the High density residential, Mixed use (Inner city), Principal centre or Major centre zones under Brisbane City Plan 2014
- located for convenient access to public and active transport infrastructure and minimises any adverse on-street parking impacts
- for the residential use of the building is used entirely for build-to-rent purposes.
Note: additional support is available where the build-to-rent development is being delivered, owned and maintained by a registered not-for-profit housing provider.
If eligible, to assist in easing the upfront financial impacts of delivering large scale build-to-rent 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 are to be paid in annual instalments following the commencement of use for the eligible development.
Council may advise on the eligibility of proposed build-to-rent developments by providing prelodgement advice, however, any advice provided by Council is for guidance purposes only. Council has also established a special assessment unit to support the implementation of the policy for build-to-rent developments.
To make a request to Council, apply by lodging an infrastructure agreement request notice, along with any necessary supporting information to demonstrate eligibility.
For more information and the eligibility criteria:
Incentive payment for green and energy efficient buildings
To encourage well-designed, green and energy efficient buildings in Brisbane, Council offers a financial payment up to 50 per cent of the value of infrastructure charges on eligible residential and commercial office developments. Find out if your project is eligible.
Incentive payment for universal housing design
Council has extended its incentive for universal housing design by 3 years to June 2024. Equivalent to 33% of the Council infrastructure charges, the incentive encourages the design of new universal housing developments that meet the accessibility needs of all residents.
The incentive is payable for new universal housing developments certified 'as built' that meet the Gold or Platinum performance level under the Livable Housing Design Guidelines and other Council-defined eligibility criteria. New accommodation designs should cater for all residents, especially those who are ageing, have a disability or injury, and families with young children.
Before applying for the incentive, all infrastructure charges must be paid. While the incentive value is based on the infrastructure charges paid (for the eligible components of the development), the payment itself is not an infrastructure charges rebate or reduction of.
To be eligible, 'as built' certification must be obtained and use of the development lawfully commenced between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2024.
Applicants must apply online before 1 October 2024.
For more information and the eligibility criteria:
Expired infrastructure charges reduction initiatives
Details of expired infrastructure charge reduction initiatives are as follows:
Charges reduction for retirement and aged care accommodation
Charges reduction for retirement and aged care accommodation
Council previously offered an initiative that reduced infrastructure charges for qualifying retirement and aged care accommodation development approvals that took effect between 1 September 2016 and 31 December 2020. The cut-off date to submit an application under this initiative was 31 December 2020, with required building work to be substantially commenced by 30 June 2022.
Charges reduction for student accommodation
Charges reduction for student accommodation
Council previously offered an initiative that reduced infrastructure charges for qualifying student accommodation development approvals that took effect between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2017. The cut-off date to submit an application under this initiative was 30 June 2017 with required building work to be substantially commenced within two years of the development approval taking effect or by 30 June 2018, whichever was the earliest.
Charges reduction for four and five-star hotels
Charges reduction for four and five-star hotels
Council previously offered an initiative to reduce infrastructure charges for qualifying four and five-star hotel development approvals that took effect between:
- 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2014 inclusive; or
- 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015 inclusive, but only for development applications lodged prior to 1 July 2014, or as a result of a formal pre-lodgement meeting prior to 1 July 2014.
Request for calculations
To request an estimate of infrastructure charges for your proposed development, complete:
You can lodge this request via:
- any Regional Business Centre
- email by following Council's eLodgement electronic file requirements.
Refer to the Schedule of fees and charges for the fee in 2023-24 financial year.
Billing and payment process
Council sends details of infrastructure charges via two Infrastructure Charges Notices (ICNs):
- Council networks (transport, stormwater and community purposes)
- Urban Utilities networks (water supply and sewerage).
Payment
Payment
Following the receipt of the ICN, pay your infrastructure charges for:
- a material change of use approval, the change of use happens; or
- reconfiguring a lot, Council approves the plan of reconfiguration; or
- building work, the final inspection certificate for the building work, or you receive the certificate of occupancy (formerly referred to as a certificate of classification) for the building under the Building Act 1975.
Council has commenced applying indexation at the time of payment for infrastructure charges related to new development approvals issued from 23 June 2023.
Indexation is calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Planning Act 2016 and the relevant infrastructure charges resolution of Council. Any ICN given on or before 22 June 2023 will not be impacted by this change.
Before you pay
Before you pay
You must provide a current infrastructure charges quote before your payment can be processed.
To receive an infrastructure charges quote, you must submit your request by completing the online request form.
The Planning Act 2016 identifies the timing of payment for infrastructure charges. You can make a request for an infrastructure charges quote if the infrastructure charges will become payable within 28 days of making the request.
Note:
- To avoid delays, check the amount payable date on the infrastructure charges quote prior to attempting to pay the charges. If the date has passed, you will need a new infrastructure charges quote before you can pay.
- For infrastructure charges issued prior to August 2020, your Infrastructure Charges Notice may state an itemised breakdown is required prior to payment being made. This process has been superseded by the infrastructure charges quote process described above.
How to pay
How to pay
For ICNs issued by Council, you can pay infrastructure charges at any Regional Business Centre by cash, cheque, EFTPOS (using a cheque or savings account) or EFT direct to Council's bank account. Payments by Mastercard or Visa incur a credit card surcharge. The surcharge is the same charged for rate payments paid by credit card.
Records of infrastructure charges
Infrastructure Charges Register
Infrastructure Charges Register
You can view information about infrastructure charges in an extract of the Infrastructure Charges Register. This is an official record of the infrastructure charges levied by Council, in accordance with the Planning Regulation 2017. The extract is produced monthly.
Download the:
Before buying or developing a property, you can save time and money by checking for previous applications or approvals, including infrastructure charges. If you are seeking infrastructure charges information for these purposes, it is recommended that you purchase a Planning and Development Certificate. You can request a Planning and Development Certificate for a fee, in accordance with the Planning Act 2016.
Trunk Infrastructure Information reporting
Trunk Infrastructure Information reporting
Commencing from 1 January 2020, Council publishes quarterly reporting on Trunk Infrastructure Information as part of its obligations for the Infrastructure Charges Register. The Trunk Infrastructure Information Report includes details of the costs for the quarter related to trunk infrastructure provided by both developers and Council, and other details including location and whether the infrastructure is included in the Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP). The report includes additional information such as Council-delivered infrastructure projects, that are not identified in the LGIP, but are consistent with the characteristics of trunk infrastructure typically included in the LGIP. The report is published as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each quarter.
Download the:
Infrastructure Charges Information reporting
Infrastructure Charges Information reporting
Council publishes annual reporting on infrastructure charges revenue and expenditure information as part of its obligations for the Infrastructure Charges Register.
The Infrastructure Charges Information reporting contains both actual and forecasted infrastructure charges revenue and trunk infrastructure expenditure information. The report includes additional information (such as Council-delivered infrastructure projects that satisfy trunk infrastructure characteristics but are not identified in the Local Government Infrastructure Plan) to assist the Infrastructure Charges Information being read in the broader context of Council's revenue and expenditure on infrastructure delivery. This report will be available before 1 December each year, in line with the amended Planning Regulation 2017 which took effect on 1 January 2020.
Download the:
Infrastructure Charges Notices
Infrastructure Charges Notices
An Infrastructure Charges Notice is provided to a development applicant with the development approval package. The Infrastructure Charges Notice lets the applicant know if an infrastructure charge is applicable for the development. You can view specific development application details, including Infrastructure Charges Notices issued, using the application enquiry search tool on Council's online planning system, Development.i.
Infrastructure agreements
An infrastructure agreement is a contractual arrangement between Council and a developer that establishes obligations and entitlements for each party. It includes a schedule of infrastructure and the timings of payment of charges or provision of infrastructure.
If you wish to request for an infrastructure agreement, please submit the completed Infrastructure agreement request notice by email:
You can obtain a copy of an infrastructure agreement from Council for a fee, or view a copy at one of Council's Regional Business Centres. To view a copy, email your request, including the address of the infrastructure agreement. Council will contact you to arrange document inspections or purchase.
More information
For more information about infrastructure charges, contact Council by:
- phone on 07 3403 8888.