A zone is the label the council's planning scheme gives a piece of land to say what it is for: housing at low, medium or high density, rural living, a centre, industry, open space. In Queensland every council must use the state's standard list of zones and their purpose statements, so a low density residential zone in Logan means the same thing as one in Brisbane. For a second home the zone does one job: it says whether a secondary dwelling is part of the ordinary dwelling house use there, and so can go ahead on a building approval, or whether it needs a planning application, or is not expected at all.
Where zones come from
Section 6 of the Planning Regulation 2017 says a council's planning scheme must not put land in any zone other than one in the regulation's schedule 2, and must use the purpose statement that goes with it. The purpose of the low density residential zone, for example, is to provide for a variety of low density dwelling types, plus the small-scale community uses that support local residents. A council can vary the wording with the Minister's agreement, and some add precincts inside a zone, but the names on the map are the state's.
What each zone means for a second home
| Zone | For a secondary dwelling |
|---|---|
| Low density residential, low-medium density residential, character residential | The home zone for a second home. A secondary dwelling is part of the dwelling house use. Inside the council's cap and setbacks it is accepted development under the code, with a building approval only. |
| Medium and high density residential | Dwelling houses are still allowed, so a secondary dwelling usually follows the same code. Lots here are often small, and the cap or site cover bites first. |
| Rural residential, rural, township | Allowed, and the cap is often larger: Logan allows 100 m² on lots of 1,000 m² or more, the Sunshine Coast 90 m² in its rural zones, Lockyer Valley 100 m² outside the residential and township zones. |
| Emerging community | Land set aside for future suburbs. A dwelling house is usually accepted on an existing lot; check the council page, because some schemes make it assessable. |
| Centre, industry, community facilities, open space, conservation | Not a housing zone. A dwelling house there is assessable or not contemplated, so a second home needs a planning application at the least. |
The council pages on this site set out the cap by zone for each of the twelve South East Queensland councils, read from the scheme itself.
Why the zone is not the whole answer
The zone sets the baseline. Two other layers sit on top of it. Overlays map a constraint such as flood or character, and where an overlay is inconsistent with the zone code the overlay wins. Neighbourhood or local plans can also change the rules for a precinct. So a lot in the right zone can still need an application because of a map, and the block check reads both the zone and the overlays for that reason.
See it for your block
Questions people ask next
Which zone suits a granny flat?
The low density residential zone is the usual one. A secondary dwelling is part of the dwelling house use there, and inside the council's cap it needs a building approval only. Rural and rural residential zones often allow a larger home.
Can the council make up its own zones?
No. The Planning Regulation 2017 lists the zones a Queensland planning scheme may use and their purpose statements. A council can add precincts inside a zone and vary a purpose statement with the Minister's agreement.
Does the zone decide the size cap?
Partly. The cap sits in the council's dwelling house or secondary dwelling code, and several councils set a different cap by zone or lot size. The council page for each area lists the cap by zone.
- Planning Regulation 2017, section 6 (zones that may be adopted) and schedule 2 (zones and purpose statements), read 16 October 2026
- Logan Planning Scheme 2015, dual occupancy and dwelling house code (cap by lot size), read 15 October 2026
- Sunshine Coast Council, dwelling house code (90 m² in rural zones), read 15 October 2026
- Lockyer Valley Regional Council, dwelling houses and secondary dwellings info sheet (cap by zone), read 15 October 2026
- Brisbane City Council, City Plan amendment package L (overlays and codes, how they interact), read 16 October 2026