Planning Amendment Regulation 2025 – Housing and Education Matters

We have extended the streamlined provisions for rooming accommodation for an additional 12 months, to 2 December 2025, and have introduced new requirements for landscaping within the front boundary setback.

This extension sustains the continued supply of rental housing options while Local Governments work on implementing longer-term planning solutions in their planning schemes.

Further information about the changes is available now.

We have extended two temporary pathways available under the Queensland Rural Workers Accommodation Initiative (the Initiative) that make it easier to provide housing to rural workers while planning schemes are updated:

• Part A – Repurposed existing facilities: Extended for 12 months so existing Nominated Premises can pursue Local Government approvals for ongoing use rights, and
• Part B – New small‑scale accommodation: Extended for 24 months to maintain a streamlined approval pathway for new rural workers’ accommodation projects.

Provisions have also been added to clarify that new developments under Part B of the Initiative are not to result in the rural workers’ accommodation, and driveways and footpaths to the accommodation, being in mapped hazard areas.

Further information on these changes is available now.

Community residences provide accommodation for people who need assistance with daily living and are typically located in residential neighbourhoods to promote inclusion and access to community life.

Previously, some community residences were exempt from requiring a development application if they met prescribed requirements. While this supported housing delivery, the criteria did not clearly define limits on scale, design or siting. This created inconsistencies and uncertainty about how these residences fit within neighbourhoods, which zones they should be located in and how to manage proximity to mapped hazard areas.

To address these issues, the Planning Regulation has been amended to ensure consistent application across Queensland while continuing to support safe and inclusive housing. The changes include:

• reducing the prescribed zones where community residences can be built without development approval
• introducing natural hazard considerations to manage risks such as flooding or bushfire
• applying design and siting requirements for Class 2 and Class 3 buildings to manage size and visual impact, and
• setting a maximum of seven bedrooms per residence to maintain intended maximum scale.

These changes provide clarity and consistency across the State, ensuring community residences are safe, appropriately scaled, and well-integrated into neighbourhoods. By introducing clear design conditions and natural hazard considerations, these changes improve safety for residents, reduce uncertainty for developers and Local Governments, while safeguarding community amenity.

Importantly, the streamlined approval pathway remains in place in the Planning Regulation, supporting the delivery of supportive housing options for vulnerable Queenslanders without compromising safety or neighbourhood character.

To support inclusion in community life and to facilitate access to important services, community residences will now only be exempt from being classified as assessable by a local planning scheme where they are located in various residential zones, centre zones, a community facilities zone or another zone that is substantially similar.

To ensure safe, suitable living conditions, community residences will not be exempt from being classified as assessable development where the premises is impacted by certain natural hazard overlays including bushfire, flood, coastal or landslide hazards, or other safety hazards arising from historic mining activities. There may be other overlays (e.g., places of local heritage or areas of environmental or ecological significance) which also affect where a community residence may be built.

To be exempt from being classified as assessable development, community residences must meet the following new design requirements:

• The premises are limited to no more than 7 bedrooms and 2 storeys.
• For Class 2 and 3 buildings, the premises must have maximum site coverage of 70% and setbacks which are at least:
  • 6m from the front boundary
  • 4m from the rear boundary, and
  • 1.5m from the side boundaries.

Community residences which do not meet the new design requirements, or other prescribed requirements, will need to seek approval from the relevant Local Government.

Class 1 buildings are already subject to design and siting controls under the Queensland Development Code (QDC) and the upcoming Queensland Housing Code (QHC). These codes provide clear standards to manage bulk and scale for Class 1 community residences.

By comparison, the previous planning provisions for Class 2 and Class 3 buildings were relatively sparse. This allowed for developments that were not always consistent with the scale and character most people expect in residential areas. To address this, minimum design requirements have been introduced for Class 2 and Class 3 buildings that are community residences.

We have not introduced additional minimum requirements for Class 1 buildings because these matters are already appropriately dealt with under the QDC and QHC.

Community residences are already subject to a 7-person occupancy limit (including a support worker) to ensure they remain small-scale and consistent with the intended use. Aligning the number of bedrooms permitted with this occupancy limit prevents unintended intensification where additional bedrooms cannot be lawfully occupied, and ensures built form remains consistent with surrounding streetscape character.

No. Ongoing development rights are in place to protect projects that are already underway. If you have obtained a development permit or development approval before 29 November 2025 but have not yet received an occupancy certificate, you can complete your development under the requirements that applied at the time your building approval was granted, provided use commences within 2 years of completion. You will not need to change your plans to meet the new requirements.

A Temporary Accepted Development (TAD) declaration has been introduced into the Planning Regulation for temporary relocatable classrooms and associated infrastructure (like paths, roads or drains) to support State schools experiencing enrolment growth. This pathway will operate until the end of 2029 and includes building controls to manage impacts, such as limits on building height, setbacks, and requirements to avoid mapped hazard areas.

Importantly, this pathway is temporary and does not establish ongoing use rights.  If a State school would like classrooms to be permanent, a development approval (either via the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) process, or Local Government approval process) will still be required.

Enrolments can often be confirmed close to the start of the school year, leaving limited time for planning approvals. The TAD pathway makes sure classrooms can be delivered quickly, when and where they’re needed, without creating unintended long‑term impacts on school sites or surrounding communities.

The changes to the Planning Regulation will allow the Department of Education to provide relocatable classrooms and associated infrastructure at established State schools experiencing growth over and above current classroom capacity, without needing a development approval. To qualify for this pathway, classrooms and associated infrastructure must meet prescribed requirements.

No, the TAD only applies to State schools.

The TAD in the Planning Regulation requires that a notice be given about the development to occupiers of adjoining premises and the relevant Local Government at least 10 business days before the development starts.

If development for relocatable classrooms and associated infrastructure does not meet the prescribed requirements in the TAD, it may become assessable development under the local planning scheme.

This may require a change to a development approval if there is already a development approval in place for a School on the site. Alternatively, the MID process may be followed, which may also include a minor amendment to an existing MID.

The changes will be in place until the last day of 2029. This provides time for the Government to explore a longer-term option for meeting enrolment needs. Relocatable classrooms are intended to be a short-term solution to accommodate enrolment growth and where permanent solutions are unable to be delivered within the timeframe required.

The temporary nature of this provision means that lawful use rights under the declaration will cease at the end of the TAD stated period. If a State school wants to continue using the relocatable classroom(s) beyond this date, they will need to obtain planning approval from the relevant Local Government and comply with any applicable conditions or requirements.

We have introduced a new land use definition for build to rent housing into Schedule 24 of the Planning Regulation. Previously, build to rent was recognised only as an administrative term. By embedding a clear land use definition in the planning framework, Local Governments will now have a consistent and prescriptive term to help shape their planning schemes.

This change will support better conversations between developers and Local Governments, provide greater certainty in the planning process, and help stimulate the uptake of this housing model across Queensland.

Build to rent housing is a model that provides long-term purpose built rental options and can be delivered at scale in well located areas. Having a clear definition gives Local Governments and industry certainty and helps target any local incentives appropriately.

Increasing the supply of long-term rental stock can also help relieve pressure on housing in established residential areas and contribute to more diverse and resilient housing options across the State.

Build to rent housing refers to residential buildings that are purpose built for long-term rental accommodation and typically managed by a single entity. Homes/units are not sold individually; instead, the entire development remains rental stock for the life of the development. This housing model supports consistent management, long-term maintenance, and stable tenure for renters.

Most rental housing in Queensland consists of individually owned dwellings such as detached houses, townhouses, or apartments, where each property is rented out separately by private landlords.

Build to rent housing developments are not all the same, but they typically include features that set them apart from traditional rental housing, such as:

• They are typically owned and managed by a single entity, rather than multiple individual owners.
• Homes are purpose built for long-term rental, rather than adapted from housing designed for sale.
• Tenancies can be more stable because there is no risk of individual owners selling their property.
• Management and maintenance are centralised, which supports consistent quality and service across the entire building.

Under the Planning Regulation, build to rent housing is defined as a residential use of premises involving 50 or more dwellings that:

• are used for residential tenancies under a residential tenancy agreement under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008,
• are not held under individual titles,
• are managed by an on-site manager, and
• are not for public housing.

The definition also includes any manager’s residence or office that is ancillary to the use.

This definition distinguishes build to rent housing from other forms of rental accommodation, such as multiple dwellings, which involve three or more dwellings but do not meet the above criteria.

Local Governments can incorporate the new build to rent housing land use definition into their planning schemes once it becomes available. This may include:

• updating planning scheme policies or codes to recognise build to rent as an assessable land use,
• considering appropriate zones or precincts where build to rent may be encouraged, such as areas close to transport, centres and employment, and
• engaging with developers early to discuss how build to rent proposals align with local housing strategies.

This provides clarity for applicants and assists Local Governments in assessing projects consistently. The Planning Regulation provides transitional provisions which allow Local Governments to continue to use the administrative build to rent definition in certain circumstances.

Build to rent housing developments can vary, but they often offer more shared spaces and features than most traditional rental housing because they are designed and managed as one whole development for a long-term period.

Some common examples include:

• shared areas like rooftop gardens, kitchens, co-working spaces, or lounges for residents,
• better facilities for bikes, end-of-trip options, and easy access to transport, and
• environmentally friendly design, such as energy-efficient buildings and features that make homes more comfortable.

Not every build to rent housing development will look the same, but the idea is to provide high quality homes with features that make life easier and more connected for renters.

The 50 dwelling threshold ensures that build to rent housing projects are large enough to support professional on-site management and consistent service for tenants. Smaller developments are less likely to provide the level of management and shared amenity that distinguishes build to rent from traditional rental housing. This threshold also helps maintain clarity in planning schemes and supports the policy intent of encouraging purpose-built, professionally managed rental options.

Build to rent housing is intended to provide long-term residential accommodation. It applies where a residential tenancy agreement is in place under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008. It does not apply to short-term stays such as hotels, serviced apartments, or holiday rentals. The model is designed to provide stable, secure housing for renters over a long-term period.

An on-site manager is essential to the build to rent model because it ensures consistent quality, safety and service for residents. Having a dedicated manager supports timely maintenance, efficient operations, and a better living experience for tenants. It also helps maintain the integrity of the development as a professionally managed rental community.

Build to rent housing is typically suited to areas with strong access to public transport, jobs, education, and services. This helps attract long-term renters and supports the viability of professionally managed rental accommodation. Local Governments may identify precincts or zones where this model aligns with their housing and growth planning.

The new land use definition supports a clearer, more consistent planning pathway for build to rent housing development. Over time, this can help increase:

• availability of professionally managed rental homes,
• stability of tenure,
• quality of building maintenance and shared facilities, and
• choice in rental housing types across Queensland.