Granny flats in Central Highlands: the rules, sourced
Central Highlands's planning scheme allows up to 80 m² of floor area. Read from the council's own document in October 2026, linked below. A second home here still needs a building approval, and anyone can rent it.
The rule in Central Highlands
| Size cap | 80 m² |
| Minimum lot | None set in the scheme |
| In the council's words, summarised | 80 m² gross floor area and smaller than the house, within 20 m of it (100 m in rural zones), with three car spaces on the lot. |
| Read on | 2026-10-16, from the council's planning scheme |
This page summarises the council's published rule and links it. Zones, overlays and setbacks change what fits on a given block, so run the block check before you plan. It is not planning advice.
Rules that apply across Queensland
- A secondary dwelling is a second home on the same lot, used with and subordinate to the main house. It can be attached or separate (Planning Regulation 2017, Schedule 24).
- Anyone can live in it or rent it since 23 September 2022; it no longer has to be family.
- A building approval is always needed. Planning approval is needed only where the scheme asks for it, and the Regulation stops councils making one assessable in most residential zones.
- The Queensland Housing Code applies from 1 September 2026 and gives a building-code default size of 50 to 60 m² that binds once a council adopts it, or from 1 September 2029. Until then this council's scheme cap above is the one to use.
Homes that fit a typical lot in Central Highlands
80 m² gross floor area and smaller than the house, within 20 m of it (100 m in rural zones), with three car spaces on the lot. On a typical 600 m² lot that means up to 80 m². These are the lowest installed prices among the 187 homes from 25 m² to that size on the site, on an easy block, with homes the maker says are Class 1a first.
See all homes up to 80 m² Check your own block
Rule from Central Highlands's planning rules, checked October 2026. Installed prices are estimates on an easy block, inc GST. Your block decides the real number.
Questions about granny flats in Central Highlands
How big can a granny flat be in Central Highlands?
Central Highlands's planning scheme allows up to 80 m² of floor area. 80 m² gross floor area and smaller than the house, within 20 m of it (100 m in rural zones), with three car spaces on the lot. Read from the council's own document in October 2026.
Do I need council approval for a granny flat in Central Highlands?
A building approval from a private certifier is always needed. A separate planning approval is needed only where the planning scheme says so; since 2024 the Planning Regulation stops councils making a secondary dwelling assessable in most residential zones. Overlays such as flood, bushfire and character can still add conditions.
Can I rent it to anyone?
Yes. Since 23 September 2022 a secondary dwelling in Queensland can be rented to anyone, not only family. That is a state rule and applies in every council.
- Central Highlands planning scheme, secondary dwelling provisions (read 2026-10-16)
- Planning Queensland, Granny flats (read 16 October 2026)
- Planning Regulation 2017, Schedule 6 and Schedule 24 (consolidated to 11 September 2026, read 15 October 2026)
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