Queensland Development Code (QDC)
The Queensland Development Code (QDC) sets out specific design, setback and siting requirements for Domestic
Class 1a (detached dwelling house) and associated Class 10 buildings/structures (garages, carports, sheds, water
tanks and pools) except where the Redlands Planning Scheme identifies an alternative siting or setback provision –
refer Table A3 in this Fact Sheet.
Where there is a difference between the Redlands Planning Scheme and the QDC, the planning scheme will override
the QDC.
Where the proposed Building Work cannot comply with the specific provisions of the QDC (or RPS where it overrides), it
requires an approval from Council as a Referral (concurrence) Agency (under SP Regs Schedule 7).
A ‘Concurrence Agency Referral application’ must be lodged with Council - a fee applies. The Applicant must
demonstrate how they can comply with the relevant Performance Criteria as set out in the applicable QDC Mandatory
Provisions: 1.1, 1.2 and 1.4.
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2
MP1.1 - Design and Siting Standard for single Detached Housing on allotments less then 450m
2
MP1.2 - Design and Siting Standard for single Detached Housing on allotments 450m and over
MP1.4 - Building over or near relevant Infrastructure – i.e. Sewer, Water, Storm/roofwater
A copy of these documents are available on the Dept of Housing and Public Works website www.hpw.qld.gov.au >
Construction > Building and plumbing > Building > Building laws and codes > Queensland Development Code > Current parts.
Building Work
Frontage
Lot greater than 450m
2
QDC MP1.2 Setback requirements
Lot less than 450m
2
QDC MP1.1 Setback requirements
From Access Street* – 3m
From Local Collector Street* – 4m
Dwelling
House
and
6
Road boundary Setback
Secondary
Dwelling
and
Additions to a
Dwelling
House e.g.
Bali Hut
Note: Garages and Carports where
building is:

2 storey – are recessed beneath the
upper storey by at least 1.2m.

1 storey – are recessed behind the
main building facade by at least 1.2m.
Setback 2.0m where the max. height of the structure is greater than 4.5m but less
than 7.5m
Patio,
Gazebo,
Note: A lesser setback may apply
refer to 
QDC MP1.2 - A1 or

Your Building Certifier.
Refer www.redland.qld.gov.au > Redemap
>search by Road Name > select ‘Legend’
in Toolbar.
*Local Collector Street – Grey lines
*Access Street - Pink lines
Setback 1.5m where the max. height of the structure is 4.5m or less
Habitable Rooms,
Deck (more than
1m in height),
metres
Side and Rear boundary
setback – Frontage more
than 15m
Setback of 2m + 0.5m for every 3m or part exceeding 7.5m where the max height of
the structure is 7.5m or greater
Note: Garages and Carports included in a new dwelling design may be located
closer to the side and rear boundary when:

The combined length of all structures within 1.5m of the boundary does not
exceed 9m and

Max height is 4.5m with a mean height of 3.5m and

Min. 1.5m from window of habitable room on adjoining property.
Building Work
Frontage
Lot greater than 450m
2
QDC MP1.2 Setback requirements
Lot less than 450m
2
QDC MP1.1 Setback requirements
Where Building height does not exceed 7.5m:
Refer to Table A2
Dwelling
House
and
Secondary
Dwelling
and
Additions to a
Dwelling
House e.g.
Side and Rear boundary
setback– Frontage less
than 15m
Habitable Rooms,
Patio,
Where Building height exceeds 7.5m:
2.0m, + 0.5m for every 3m above 7.5m
Deck (more than
1m in height),
Gazebo,
Bali Hut
Corner lot – lot has an
average depth more
than 24m
-as per Road Boundary Setback
-as per Road Boundary Setback
- Nominated road frontage as per Table A1;
-other road frontage - as per Road Boundary setback and
- No building over 2m high within 9m x 9m truncation of corner
– refer diagram below
Corner lot – lot has an
average depth less than
24m
Building over or near
Relevant underground
infrastructure as per
QDC MP 1.4
Refer Fact Sheet ‘FS205 Build over or Near Relevant Infrastructure’
Max Building Height
8.5m for land with slopes up to 15%
10m for land with slopes more than 15%
Car parking Spaces
Sufficient space for parking 2 vehicles wholly within the property boundary
Site Coverage
Refer Table A3
Building Work
Frontage
Road boundary Setback
Spa
2
QDC MP1.2 Setback requirements
2
QDC MP1.1 Setback requirements
No boundary setback where: a solid wall/fence at least 1.8m high is constructed
between the water and the road boundary and the top of the wall/fence is at least
1m above the top of the coping of the pool.
OR
Side and Rear boundary
Setback
No boundary setback where: a solid wall/fence at least 1.8m high is constructed
between the boundary and the pool to prevent water entry onto the adjoining
Property
And the top of the wall/fence is at least 1m above the top of the coping of the pool.
Note: If the above cannot be met – as per Dwelling Side and Rear Setbacks.
Building over or near
Relevant underground
infrastructure as per
QDC MP 1.4
Refer Fact Sheet ‘FS205 Build over or Near Relevant Infrastructure’
6 metres.
Open Carports only - a lesser
setback may apply refer to –
Road Boundary Setback

Your Building Certifier or

QDC MP1.2 A1 (c)
Refer ‘Identifying an Open Carport’
example below
As per Road boundary setback for a
Dwelling House
AND
Garage only - for rectangular or near
rectangular lot, the opening facing the
street is 6m or 50% of the street frontage
– whichever is the lesser.
Side and Rear boundaries
within 1.5m
May be located closer to the side and rear boundary when:

The combined length of all structures within 1.5m of the boundary does not
exceed 9m and

Max height is 4.5m with a mean height of 3.5m (for that part of the building
within 1.5m from the boundary) and

Min. 1.5m from window of habitable room on adjoining property.
Note: If the above cannot be met, setbacks are as per Side and Rear boundaries
for a Dwelling House.
Max Building Height
For that part of the building greater than 1.5m from the side and rear boundaries,
Maximum building height:

8.5m for land with slopes up to 15% OR

10m for land with slopes more than 15%
Building over or near
Relevant underground
infrastructure as per
QDC MP 1.4
Refer Fact Sheet ‘FS205 Build over or Near Relevant Infrastructure’
Site Coverage
Refer Table A3
Outbuildings
e.g.
Garage
Lot less than 450m
1.5 metres where: the vertical distance to the coping above the finished ground
level is not more than1.2m high.
Swimming
Pool
or
Lot greater than 450m
Carport
Shed
Structure
Frontage
Lot less than 450m
QDC MP1.2 Setback requirements
2
QDC MP1.1 Setback requirements
As per Road Boundary setback for
Dwelling House
Side and Rear boundary
Setback
Tank (including stand) less than 2.4m high – No min. setback
Tank (including stand) more than 2.4m high - as per Side and Rear boundary
setbacks for Dwelling House
Building over or near
Relevant underground
infrastructure as per
QDC MP 1.4
As per Road boundary setback for
Dwelling House
If the tank does not meet the requirements of the 'Minor Building Project'
FactSheet or is supported by a concrete slab with footings (regardless of size).
Refer Fact Sheet ‘FS205 Build over or Near Relevant Infrastructure’
Otherwise – No additional requirements.
Road boundary Setback
As per Road Boundary setback for
Dwelling House
Side and Rear boundary
-1.5m where max. height is 4.5m or less
-2.0m where max. height is 4.5m but less than 7.5m
-more than 7.5m in height – 2.0m plus 0.5m for every 3m or part thereof
exceeding 7.5m
or
Communication
Structure e.g.
Satellite Dish or
Aerial
excludes
Commercial
Telecommunication
Facilities
2
Road boundary Setback
Rainwater Tank
Flagpole
Lot greater than 450m
Building over or near
Relevant underground
infrastructure as per
QDC MP 1.4
Road boundary Setback
As per Road Boundary setback for
Dwelling House
If the flagpole does not meet the requirements of the 'Minor Building Project'
FactSheet or is supported by concrete footings (regardless of height).
Refer Fact Sheet ‘FS205 Build over or Near Relevant Infrastructure’
Otherwise – No minimum setback
No minimum setback IF –

Floor area no more than 4m2 and

Max. 2m wide elevation to the street; and

Max. Height 3m
Otherwise - As per Road boundary setback for a Dwelling House.
Gatehouse
Building over or near
Relevant underground
infrastructure as per
QDC MP 1.4
Front, Side and Rear
boundary
If the gatehouse is supported by a concrete slab with footings (regardless of
area).
Refer Fact Sheet ‘FS205 Build over or Near Relevant Infrastructure’
Otherwise – No minimum setback
No min. Setback IF –

Max. height of fence or combination of fence and retaining wall is no higher
than 2m
Otherwise - As per Road boundary for a Dwelling House.
Fences are not more than 1m high within a truncation made by 3 equal chords
of a 6m radius curve at the corner of the two road frontages.
Fence or
combined
Fence and
Retaining Wall
Additional requirement
for a Corner Allotment
Building over or near
Relevant underground
infrastructure as per
QDC MP 1.4
If the fence is more than 2m high, retaining wall more than 1m high or either
structure is supported by continuous concrete footings (regardless of height)
Refer Fact Sheet ‘FS205 Build over or Near Relevant Infrastructure’
Otherwise – No minimum setback
Table A3
Zone
Maximum Site Cover
Minimum Setbacks
Conservation
Emerging Urban Community
1,000m
Environmental Protection
2
a)
For lots <2 hectares in area, front, side and rear
setbacks are 10m; OR
b)
For lots >2 hectares in area, front, side and rear
setbacks are:
Investigation
Park Residential
30%
Lot size
≤ 4ha
Rural Non Urban
1000m
Low Density Residential
2
Lot size
> 4ha
1,000m2 +
2.5% of
2
every m
over 4ha
30%
Medium Density Residential
Urban Residential, excluding
sub-area UR2
c)
a)
Comply with the Queensland Development Code
(QDC); OR
b)
3m for SMBI Residential where you are:
-
50%
SMBI Residential lots that are
2
≤ 600m
maintaining or reinstating native vegetation; or
minimising impact on areas of habitat value; or
accommodating an onsite sewerage facility; OR
c)
For land within the Canal and Lakeside Structures
Overlay, buildings and structures (other than pool
fencing of glass or Perspex construction) exceeding 1
metre in height above ground level are set back a
minimum of 4.5 metres from the property boundary
adjacent to the canal or artificial waterway/waterbody.
d)
Located entirely within a development envelope area
that has been approved by Council.
Urban Residential sub-area UR2
SMBI Residential lots that are
2
> 600m
40%
All other zones
20m; OR
10m where screened by planted landscaping; OR
Located entirely within a development envelope area
that has been approved by Council
Refer to the applicable zone code for site coverage and the Queensland Development
Code for setbacks.
Further Information
For further information on the matters contained in this fact sheet or for assistance with lodging a request to Council for
a referral agency response, please contact Council’s Planning Assessment Unit on:

(07) 3829 8999 Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm

[email protected]
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
Redland City Council | City Planning & Assessment | PO Box 21 | Cleveland QLD 4163
www.redland.qld.gov.au
For more information contact Planning Assessment, Redland City Council, PO Box 21, Cleveland Qld 4163.
Telephone (07) 3829 8999 or visit our website at www.redland.qld.gov.au
FS199 – 25/10/2016