1 min read · Sep 7
Queensland's new Housing Code commenced on 1 September, but homeowners should not assume every council now applies identical rules. The code updates design and siting standards for detached houses and secondary dwellings. It covers matters including building height, setbacks, privacy, parking, site coverage and private open space. Its purpose is to replace the patchwork of different local requirements with a more consistent framework. However, councils have a three-year transition period, and the way the code applies locally will depend on each planning scheme during that period. The practical takeaway is simple: confirm the current controls before paying for a design based on the new limits. Check the planning scheme, property overlays, hazards, easements, services and any alternative local provisions that may affect the site. A code change can create an opportunity. It does not remove the need to test the property properly before the design is locked in.