Can I build a granny flat in Scenic Rim?
Short answer: under the Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020, a secondary dwelling that meets the dwelling house code is accepted development, meaning no planning approval. The code limits it to 60 m² gross floor area and requires it to be within 20 m of the outermost projection of the primary dwelling. You still need building and plumbing approvals.
Scenic Rim secondary dwelling rules at a glance
| Maximum size | 60 m² gross floor area |
|---|---|
| Distance from main house | Within 20 m of the outermost projection of the primary dwelling |
| Height | No more than 2 storeys and 8.5 m |
| Parking | At least one covered car space on site for the dwelling house, plus an off-street space for the secondary dwelling |
| Services | Connected to the same water and electricity supply as the primary dwelling. Where there is no reticulated sewerage, wastewater can go to the primary dwelling's system |
| Planning approval | Not needed if the dwelling house code is met and no overlay lifts the assessment level |
| Infrastructure charges | May apply under council's Charges Resolution, with water and sewer charges set by Queensland Urban Utilities |
| Water authority | Queensland Urban Utilities (where reticulated) |
| 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. |
Rural and unsewered blocks
Much of Scenic Rim is rural. If there is no reticulated water, the dwelling house must connect to an on-site supply with at least 45,000 L of storage, and where there is no sewer your wastewater must be dealt with on site. Setbacks are larger in rural zones, for example 10 m to the street frontage in the Rural and Rural Residential zones, against 6 m in most urban zones.
Overlays can change everything
Council notes that an overlay can lift a dwelling house or secondary dwelling from accepted development to code or impact assessable. The best way to check is council's online planning scheme mapping, or you can talk to a planner.
One set of connections
Because the code requires the secondary dwelling to share the primary dwelling's water and electricity supply, plan for shared connections from the start. Separate connections are one reason a council can treat a project as dual occupancy.
Who to ask in Scenic Rim
- Council: council's fact sheet and a council planner (07 5540 5111)
- Water authority: Queensland Urban Utilities (where your lot is reticulated). 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 · Moreton Bay · Logan · Ipswich · Redland · Lockyer Valley · Noosa · Toowoomba · Somerset. See the Queensland overview.
Sources
- Scenic Rim Regional Council, Dwelling houses and secondary dwellings fact sheet (planning scheme 2020).
- Scenic Rim Regional Council, Infrastructure charges.
- Queensland Government, Changes to secondary dwellings.
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 Scenic Rim?
Under the Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020's dwelling house code, a secondary dwelling can have a gross floor area of up to 60 m² and must be within 20 m of the primary dwelling.
Do I need planning approval for a granny flat in Scenic Rim?
Not if your secondary dwelling meets the dwelling house code and no overlay lifts the assessment level. You still need building and plumbing approvals.
Does a Scenic Rim granny flat pay infrastructure charges?
Charges may apply under council's Charges Resolution, and Queensland Urban Utilities levies water and sewer charges. Ask council what applies to your project.
Check your Queensland block in 2 minutes
Answer 12 questions about your council, block and plans. You get a free, plain-English result showing what looks possible, what needs checking and what to do next. No contact details needed.
Check my Queensland block