Can I build a granny flat in Moreton Bay?
Short answer: Moreton Bay changed its secondary dwelling rules on 30 October 2024 (planning scheme version 7, the Better Housing Amendment). Maximum floor area is now linked to lot size: 45 m² on lots of 450 to 800 m² and 55 m² on lots of 800 m² or more. There are also minimum site areas, and secondary dwellings can't have separate utility connections.
Moreton Bay secondary dwelling rules at a glance
| Maximum floor area | 45 m² on lots of 450 to 800 m²; 55 m² on lots of 800 m² or more (before 30 October 2024 it was tied to frontage: 45 m² under 15 m, 55 m² at 15 m or more) |
|---|---|
| Minimum lot size | General Residential zone, Coastal Communities and Suburban Neighbourhood precincts: 600 m² plus 12.5 m frontage. All other precincts: 450 m² plus 10 m frontage |
| Services | Primary and secondary dwellings cannot be connected to separate services such as electricity and water; sub-metering requirements are in the Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code |
| Planning approval | Generally accepted development (no planning approval) where the requirements for accepted development are met; building and plumbing approvals are then required |
| Water authority | Unitywater |
| Rent | Since 26 September 2022 a secondary dwelling in Queensland can be rented to anyone, not only family. It needs its building approval and final certificate first, and normal tenancy law applies. |
Why this council is tighter
Moreton Bay's limits are among the lowest in South East Queensland, and the minimum site areas are new since October 2024, so advice from before that date can be wrong. A lot below 450 m² doesn't meet the minimum, and in the coastal and suburban precincts you need 600 m² and a 12.5 m frontage.
One set of connections
The scheme says a secondary dwelling can't have separate services from the main house. Plan for shared electricity and water connections with sub-metering if you want to bill a tenant for usage, and check the Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code.
Check which precinct you are in
Whether you need 450 m² or 600 m² depends on the zone and precinct of your lot. Check council's planning scheme mapping or ask a planner. Council directs applicants to a private building certifier for the building approval.
Who to ask in Moreton Bay
- Council: council's secondary dwellings page or a private building certifier
- Water authority: Unitywater (typically for Moreton Bay). Order a sewer service diagram early and ask about its build-over-asset process.
- Building certifier and builder: check licences on the QBCC register. See choosing a builder.
Other councils: Brisbane · Gold Coast · Sunshine Coast · Logan · Ipswich · Redland · Scenic Rim · Lockyer Valley · Noosa · Toowoomba · Somerset. See the Queensland overview.
Sources
- Moreton Bay Regional Council, Planning scheme version 7: Secondary dwelling policy changes.
- Moreton Bay Regional Council, Secondary dwelling information sheet and Secondary dwellings and granny flats.
General information only, not planning, legal or building advice. Council provisions change, so confirm the current version with council and check the review date above.
Frequently asked questions
How big can a granny flat be in Moreton Bay?
Under the planning scheme version 7 (from 30 October 2024), 45 m² on lots of 450 to 800 m² and 55 m² on lots of 800 m² or more.
What is the minimum lot size for a granny flat in Moreton Bay?
In the General Residential zone's Coastal Communities and Suburban Neighbourhood precincts it is 600 m² with a 12.5 m frontage. In all other precincts under the Dwelling House Code it is 450 m² with a 10 m frontage.
Can a Moreton Bay granny flat have its own meter?
Council's planning scheme says primary and secondary dwellings cannot be connected to separate services, such as electricity and water. Sub-metering is covered by the Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code.
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