Can I build a granny flat in Somerset?
Short answer: Somerset treats granny flats differently from most of South East Queensland. Council's dwelling house page lists a new secondary dwelling (granny flat) among the circumstances where a dwelling house needs planning approval, in the form of a material change of use. The page doesn't state a size limit, so ask council before you design.
Somerset secondary dwelling rules at a glance
| Planning approval | Council's dwelling house page lists a new granny flat as needing a development approval for a material change of use (confirm with council for your zone) |
|---|---|
| Size, distance, bedrooms | Not stated on council's page; set in the Somerset Region Planning Scheme |
| Dwelling houses generally | Accepted development subject to requirements in zones where residential uses are anticipated, becoming code assessable where criteria aren't met |
| 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. |
Why Somerset differs
Under the Somerset Regional Planning Scheme, dwelling houses are generally accepted development subject to requirements. But council's information lists adding a secondary dwelling as one of the circumstances that triggers planning approval. That is different from councils such as Brisbane, Logan or Ipswich, where a compliant secondary dwelling can be accepted development. Confirm this for your zone, because the zone table decides.
What we couldn't confirm
Council's page doesn't state a maximum floor area, distance from the main house, or bedroom limit, and we couldn't retrieve the zone table. Please don't rely on figures from other sources. Ask council whether your lot needs a material change of use application, and what the size and siting criteria are.
Practical next steps
- Look up your zone and overlays in council's planning scheme mapping.
- Ask council for pre-lodgement advice in writing.
- Check your title for easements and covenants.
- Order a sewer service diagram if you're sewered, or plan on-site wastewater if not.
Who to ask in Somerset
- Council: council's dwelling houses page or call council on (07) 5424 4000
- 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 · Scenic Rim · Lockyer Valley · Noosa · Toowoomba. See the Queensland overview.
Sources
- Somerset Regional Council, Dwelling houses.
- Somerset Regional Council, Building work under the planning scheme.
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
Do I need planning approval for a granny flat in Somerset?
Council's dwelling house page lists a new secondary dwelling (granny flat) among the circumstances where planning approval, a material change of use, is needed. Confirm with council for your zone before you design.
How big can a granny flat be in Somerset?
Council's dwelling house page doesn't state a size limit. The criteria are in the Somerset Region Planning Scheme, so ask council or check the scheme.
Who supplies water and sewer in Somerset?
Where reticulated, Queensland Urban Utilities. Ask it for a sewer service diagram, or plan on-site wastewater if you're unsewered.
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