Granny flats in Southern Downs: the rules, sourced
Southern Downs's planning scheme allows no fixed size cap: the second home has to stay subordinate to the main house. 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 Southern Downs
| Size cap | None set; subordinate to the main house |
| Minimum lot | None set in the scheme |
| In the council's words, summarised | No size cap found in the scheme codes; no planning approval in the Low and Medium density residential zones, approval needed in Rural, Rural residential and Township zones. |
| Read on | 2026-10-15, 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 Southern Downs
No size cap found in the scheme codes; no planning approval in the Low and Medium density residential zones, approval needed in Rural, Rural residential and Township zones. There is no size cap, so these are homes up to 80 m², a common granny flat size. 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 Southern Downs'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 Southern Downs
How big can a granny flat be in Southern Downs?
Southern Downs's planning scheme allows no fixed size cap: the second home has to stay subordinate to the main house. No size cap found in the scheme codes; no planning approval in the Low and Medium density residential zones, approval needed in Rural, Rural residential and Township zones. Read from the council's own document in October 2026.
Do I need council approval for a granny flat in Southern Downs?
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.
- Southern Downs planning scheme, secondary dwelling provisions (read 2026-10-15)
- 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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