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Prepare and lodge an application

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Follow this step-by-step guide to complete and lodge your development application.

Woman with short hair and glasses, wearing striped shirt, using her tablet for an application process.

Stage 1: Preparing your development application

Understand the development application process

Make sure you understand the requirements of your project before you lodge an application. 

Preliminary research

Find out the necessary approvals for your project, along with specific requirements and regulations.

Find out more about:

Pre-application advice (optional)

Our Planning Information Officers can answer your questions and provide general advice about your development.

Learn more

Engage professionals

Talk to industry experts such as architects, town planners and surveyors about your project. They can provide professional advice and prepare the necessary documents to lodge a development application.

Find an expert

Looking for something else

Getting started and approvals

Request Council assistance

Getting expert advice

Stage 2: Lodging your development application

The development application process varies depending on the nature of your project. 

Use this process as a guide to make sure your development application is compliant and properly made.

Step 1: Prepare documentation

Follow these steps to prepare your application.

1 Enter application details including proposals and permits information

 

For code or impact assessment development applications, complete DA Form 1: Development application details.

Complete DA Form 1

 

You must complete DA Form 2: Building work details for developments involving:

  • building work only; or 
  • building work associated with any other type of assessable development.
Complete DA Form 2
tip

Tip

Use the supporting checklists and templates to help you complete the relevant form.

2 Attach the supporting documents

 The documents required for attachment may include:

  • the relevant development application form
  • owner's consent documents
  • proposal plans
  • planning assessment
  • specialist investigation reports
  • other supporting documents or reports.
information outline

Note

You need written consent from the owner when you submit a development application. Without this, your application will be incomplete. Written consent must be dated to be valid.

For online lodgements, you can attach supporting drawings and documents as any of the following file types:

  • Word document
  • PDF
  • JPG.

For all other documents, all files must be in a PDF format that is:

  • created by a software program, not by a scanner
  • unlocked with no password protection.

File names must be:

  • the name of the document type (e.g. 'form' or 'application report')
  • under 25 characters, including spaces
  • free of symbols, including underscores.

There's no combined file size limit for attachments. However, each individual document must be less than 40Mb. If you have a document over this size:

  • split it into separate files
  • make sure the file names reflect the order the documents should be viewed. E.g. A large acoustic report split into 2 files should be respectively named ‘Acoustic report part 1 of 2’ and ‘Acoustic report part 2 of 2’.

Owner's consent documents

The following requirements are applicable regarding owner's consent.

An individual is considered a private applicant, such as a homeowner wanting to build or renovate personal property.

You must include a current title search from Titles Queensland. This must be signed by all landowners. 

If there are multiple owners of a single lot, the consent and signature of each owner is required.

If an application is over several lots, consent from all owners of each lot is required.

This relates to commercial applicants or business-related projects. It includes applicants who intend to build, renovate or start a business.

Required documents:

Depending on the legal structure of the company, these documents must be signed by:

  • the sole director; or
  • 2 directors; or
  • the director or secretary.

The position of the signatory must be clearly stated on the owner's consent. However, the name is not mandatory.

You must include a copy of the trust deed or the appointment of trustee documentation.

If the land is held under a trust agreement, supply a copy of the trust documents. These documents should identify who can sign on behalf of the trust. 

Only those authorised on the documentation can sign on behalf of a trust. This applies where the trustee is a company, as per company requirements.

This is an owner of common property under a Community Management Scheme.

You must supply a copy of the resolution of the body corporate authorising the committee members to sign under seal or make the application with their land.

This document must be signed by 2 committee members (usually the Chair and Secretary) and under seal.

Note: See section 190 of the Body Corporate and Community Management Regulation (Accommodation Module 2008).

You must include a copy of the trust deed.

If the trustee is a company, you must include a company search or a letter from the legal representative giving them authority to sign.

This document must be signed depending on the legal structure:

  • for a charitable trust, as per trust requirements
  • if the trustee is a company, as per company requirements.

You must include a copy of the certification of incorporation.

This document must be signed depending on the legal structure:    

  • if a company, the company requirements
  • if an Associated Incorporation, the Secretary of the Association.

You must include a copy of the Power of Attorney document by which they’re appointed under section 14 of the Power of Attorney Act.

This document must be signed by the person who holds power of attorney.

You must do a title search to identify the owner history. 

If the search reveals previous owners, provide a copy of:

  • the contract of sale (settlement); or  
  • a letter from solicitors confirming the sale.

This document must be signed by the current owners (seller before settlement or buyer once settlement has occurred).

You must do a title search to identify the owner history. 

If the search reveals previous owners, provide a copy of:

  • the contract of sale (settlement); or  
  • a letter from solicitors confirming the sale.

This document must be signed by the current owners.

You must include a copy of a will, appointment of executor or a letter of authority.

This document must be signed by the executors of the estate.

If land is to be transferred to one party, subject to Court orders, you must include a copy of the Court orders and authority for one part to sign for the other.

This document must be signed by each owner of the land on the title deed. This applies unless authority is given for the other.

There are not required documents. The lessor of the land must give owner’s consent.

There are no required documents. The owner or the trustee, within the terms of the trust or reserve, must give owner's consent.

If your application includes land owned by Council, you need to get owner’s consent from us.

Request consent

Step 2: Review your application

Before you lodge your application, make sure it’s properly made. If it’s not, we won’t be able to assess it until you’ve provided the necessary information.

Under the Planning Act 2016 (the Act), a complete application is commonly known as a ‘properly made’ application. To find out more, read section 51 of the Act.

Application checklist

  • Fill out the required forms and check for any additional necessary approvals.
  • Include all required plans and reports.
  • Confirm the application aligns with any other relevant development approval conditions or plans. 
  • Verify that information on all forms is accurate and consistent, including address and lot parcel details.
  • Double-check the correctness of your development approval reference number (A00 number). 
  • Ensure that attachments meet the correct file format requirements.
  • Consider consulting a professional town planning consultant. It is highly recommended to avoid invalid approval. 

To minimise delays, make sure you:

  • Avoid poor quality plans. All plans should be prepared by a qualified design consultant. 
  • Provide sufficient information. Give as much supporting information as possible and make sure any reports and plans don’t conflict.

Step 3: Lodge your application

The easiest way to lodge a development application is online.

Lodge an application

You can also lodge a development application:

Brisbane City Council
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane Qld 4001

There's a scanning fee for applications lodged in person or by mail.

tip

Tips

  • Keep copies of all documents you submit for your development application.
  • Pay the relevant fees as soon as possible to ensure the assessment process isn’t delayed.
  • Familiarise yourself with the application process and what may happen after your development is approved. 

Step 1: Prepare documentation

Follow these steps to prepare your application.

1 Enter application details including proposals and permits information

 

For code or impact assessment development applications, complete DA Form 1: Development application details.

Complete DA Form 1

 

You must complete DA Form 2: Building work details for developments involving:

  • building work only; or 
  • building work associated with any other type of assessable development.
Complete DA Form 2
tip

Tip

Use the supporting checklists and templates to help you complete the relevant form.

2 Attach the supporting documents

 The documents required for attachment may include:

  • the relevant development application form
  • owner's consent documents
  • proposal plans
  • planning assessment
  • specialist investigation reports
  • other supporting documents or reports.
information outline

Note

You need written consent from the owner when you submit a development application. Without this, your application will be incomplete. Written consent must be dated to be valid.

For online lodgements, you can attach supporting drawings and documents as any of the following file types:

  • Word document
  • PDF
  • JPG.

For all other documents, all files must be in a PDF format that is:

  • created by a software program, not by a scanner
  • unlocked with no password protection.

File names must be:

  • the name of the document type (e.g. 'form' or 'application report')
  • under 25 characters, including spaces
  • free of symbols, including underscores.

There's no combined file size limit for attachments. However, each individual document must be less than 40Mb. If you have a document over this size:

  • split it into separate files
  • make sure the file names reflect the order the documents should be viewed. E.g. A large acoustic report split into 2 files should be respectively named ‘Acoustic report part 1 of 2’ and ‘Acoustic report part 2 of 2’.

Owner's consent documents

The following requirements are applicable regarding owner's consent.

An individual is considered a private applicant, such as a homeowner wanting to build or renovate personal property.

You must include a current title search from Titles Queensland. This must be signed by all landowners. 

If there are multiple owners of a single lot, the consent and signature of each owner is required.

If an application is over several lots, consent from all owners of each lot is required.

This relates to commercial applicants or business-related projects. It includes applicants who intend to build, renovate or start a business.

Required documents:

Depending on the legal structure of the company, these documents must be signed by:

  • the sole director; or
  • 2 directors; or
  • the director or secretary.

The position of the signatory must be clearly stated on the owner's consent. However, the name is not mandatory.

You must include a copy of the trust deed or the appointment of trustee documentation.

If the land is held under a trust agreement, supply a copy of the trust documents. These documents should identify who can sign on behalf of the trust. 

Only those authorised on the documentation can sign on behalf of a trust. This applies where the trustee is a company, as per company requirements.

This is an owner of common property under a Community Management Scheme.

You must supply a copy of the resolution of the body corporate authorising the committee members to sign under seal or make the application with their land.

This document must be signed by 2 committee members (usually the Chair and Secretary) and under seal.

Note: See section 190 of the Body Corporate and Community Management Regulation (Accommodation Module 2008).

You must include a copy of the trust deed.

If the trustee is a company, you must include a company search or a letter from the legal representative giving them authority to sign.

This document must be signed depending on the legal structure:

  • for a charitable trust, as per trust requirements
  • if the trustee is a company, as per company requirements.

You must include a copy of the certification of incorporation.

This document must be signed depending on the legal structure:    

  • if a company, the company requirements
  • if an Associated Incorporation, the Secretary of the Association.

You must include a copy of the Power of Attorney document by which they’re appointed under section 14 of the Power of Attorney Act.

This document must be signed by the person who holds power of attorney.

You must do a title search to identify the owner history. 

If the search reveals previous owners, provide a copy of:

  • the contract of sale (settlement); or  
  • a letter from solicitors confirming the sale.

This document must be signed by the current owners (seller before settlement or buyer once settlement has occurred).

You must do a title search to identify the owner history. 

If the search reveals previous owners, provide a copy of:

  • the contract of sale (settlement); or  
  • a letter from solicitors confirming the sale.

This document must be signed by the current owners.

You must include a copy of a will, appointment of executor or a letter of authority.

This document must be signed by the executors of the estate.

If land is to be transferred to one party, subject to Court orders, you must include a copy of the Court orders and authority for one part to sign for the other.

This document must be signed by each owner of the land on the title deed. This applies unless authority is given for the other.

There are not required documents. The lessor of the land must give owner’s consent.

There are no required documents. The owner or the trustee, within the terms of the trust or reserve, must give owner's consent.

If your application includes land owned by Council, you need to get owner’s consent from us.

Request consent

Step 2: Review your application

Before you lodge your application, make sure it’s properly made. If it’s not, we won’t be able to assess it until you’ve provided the necessary information.

Under the Planning Act 2016 (the Act), a complete application is commonly known as a ‘properly made’ application. To find out more, read section 51 of the Act.

Application checklist

  • Fill out the required forms and check for any additional necessary approvals.
  • Include all required plans and reports.
  • Confirm the application aligns with any other relevant development approval conditions or plans. 
  • Verify that information on all forms is accurate and consistent, including address and lot parcel details.
  • Double-check the correctness of your development approval reference number (A00 number). 
  • Ensure that attachments meet the correct file format requirements.
  • Consider consulting a professional town planning consultant. It is highly recommended to avoid invalid approval. 

To minimise delays, make sure you:

  • Avoid poor quality plans. All plans should be prepared by a qualified design consultant. 
  • Provide sufficient information. Give as much supporting information as possible and make sure any reports and plans don’t conflict.

Step 3: Lodge your application

The easiest way to lodge a development application is online.

Lodge an application

You can also lodge a development application:

Brisbane City Council
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane Qld 4001

There's a scanning fee for applications lodged in person or by mail.

tip

Tips

  • Keep copies of all documents you submit for your development application.
  • Pay the relevant fees as soon as possible to ensure the assessment process isn’t delayed.
  • Familiarise yourself with the application process and what may happen after your development is approved. 

Stage 3: Paying application fees

Development application fees vary depending on the type of development. They could include:

  • additional permits
  • hiring professionals to ensure your development meets the relevant regulations
  • infrastructure charges (managed after an application is decided).

Find out more about development application fees and other charges that may apply.

Learn about fees
information outline1

Note

  • When Council has determined your development application is complete, we’ll issue you a fee quote. 

  • BPAY is the preferred method of payment, however full details for payment will be included on the fee quote.

  • We won’t assess the application further until this fee has been paid in full.

Stage 4: After submitting your development application

After you submit your development application, Council will assess it against the relevant assessment benchmarks.

mdi information outline

Note

Council may request further information if there is insufficient detail to decide the application. 

Application assessment 

We’ll review your application and assess it against the relevant requirements.

You’ll receive an information request if we need more information.

Depending on your application, the assessment process may also involve referrals to external agencies and public notification. This will extend the assessment timeframe.

Council decision

Once the assessment is complete, we’ll send you a decision notice informing you of our decision within 5 business days.

For approved applications, the decision notice will include the:

  • terms of the decision
  • appeal rights
  • conditions with which you need to comply. 

If your application is refused, the decision notice will outline the reasons why.

Compliance and appeals 

If your development application is approved, you may need to comply with certain conditions set by Council. This could include:

  • applying for additional permits
  • requesting further meetings 
  • seeking environmental offsets.

If your application has been refused, you can appeal Council's decision.

Learn more

Council support

We have a range of resources to help you understand the development assessment process and prepare your development application.  

You can:

  • talk to a Planning Information Officer
  • attend a Talk to a Planner session
  • access prelodgement services
  • request pre-assessment of a technical report.
Learn more
information outline1

If you have technical difficulties when lodging your application, call Council on 07 3403 8888.

Penalties for unauthorised work 

To avoid penalties, make sure you’ve received all relevant approvals before you begin construction.

You can report unauthorised work or a breach of planning regulations to Council.

Lodge a report

Frequently asked questions

Yes, we recommend that you get expert help when you prepare and lodge a development application. These professionals can give advice about your project and help you understand best practices and the information you need.

If you need help, you can also request Council assistance and talk to a Planning Information Officer.

Fees to prepare and lodge a development application vary across projects. Learn more about development application cost considerations and estimate your fees.

You can track the progress of your development application using Development.i. Use the property’s address, map location or your application number to track its progress.

Yes, there are forms and templates available to help you prepare your development application. Visit the Queensland Government website to find development application forms and templates.

Yes, you can modify your lodged development application. We understand that projects can change and new information about a development can become available. If your application has been allocated to an officer, you can discuss how to change the development application during the assessment process. 

To make sure your development application meets all the necessary criteria and regulations: