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Do I need approval to extend my house in Brisbane?

Most house extensions in Brisbane are accepted development — no planning application — if they stay within the height, setback and site-cover limits. The big exception is the character overlay on pre-1947 homes. Here's how to tell, plus a free plan check.

Brisbane homeowners planning an extension, renovation or second-storey addition who want to know whether they need a planning DA before they design and build.

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Extensions are usually accepted development

A house extension or renovation is building work to a dwelling house, assessed under the Brisbane City Plan Dwelling House Code (9.3.7). In most suburbs, if the work stays within the zone height (around 9.5 m / 2 storeys in low-density zones) and the Queensland Development Code boundary setbacks and site cover, it's accepted development — you proceed under a building approval, no town-planning DA. Setbacks vary with wall height; a built-to-boundary wall has its own limits.

Building height to the zone limit (≈ 9.5 m / 2 storeys in low-density zones)
Boundary setbacks + site cover per the Queensland Development Code
Stormwater not worsened to neighbours; lawful drainage
Stays a single dwelling house (one household)

The character overlay — Brisbane's big exception

Here's the trap that catches most inner-Brisbane renovators: the Traditional building character overlay. If your home is pre-1947, demolishing or substantially altering it — and many extensions count — is assessable development under the character overlay code, so you DO need a development application even if the size and setbacks are fine. The overlay covers large parts of Brisbane's older suburbs (Paddington, Bulimba, Wynnum, Annerley and many more).

Heritage-listed places and flood, bushfire or landslide overlays can add their own approvals too. The free snapshot shows which overlays apply to your address.

Check your extension plans — free

Have plans? The free Brisbane plan compliance check reads the height, storeys, setbacks and site cover off your PDF, tests them against the Dwelling House Code, and flags whether a character or heritage overlay applies — so you know if it's accepted development or a DA before you lodge. For a pre-1947 character home, the Pre-1947 Character report supports the application.

Real example

Worked example

A single-storey rear extension on a 1990s low-density house, within height and QDC setbacks, is accepted development — building approval, no DA. The same extension on a pre-1947 home in the character overlay is assessable development and needs a development application regardless of size.

The statutory basis

House extensions in Brisbane are assessed under the Brisbane City Plan 2014 Dwelling House Code (section 9.3.7), with siting under the Queensland Development Code; the Traditional building character overlay code (section 8.2.21) governs work to pre-1947 dwellings. All are made under the Planning Act 2016.

Brisbane City Plan 2014 — Dwelling House Code

Section 9.3.7

Brisbane City Plan 2014 — Traditional building character overlay code

Section 8.2.21 (pre-1947)

Queensland Development Code

MP 1.1/1.2 — siting & setbacks

Frequently asked questions

Do I need council approval to extend my house in Brisbane?

Usually not a planning DA — if the extension stays within the zone height and the QDC setbacks/site cover it's accepted development (building approval only). The main exception is a character or heritage overlay, which makes the work assessable and requires a DA.

How do I know if my house is in a character overlay?

Run the free Property Snapshot for your address — it lists the overlays applying, including the Traditional building character overlay. Pre-1947 homes in Brisbane's older suburbs are commonly affected.

Can I add a second storey without a DA in Brisbane?

If the finished building stays within the zone height (≈ 9.5 m / 2 storeys low-density) and the QDC setbacks/site cover, and there's no character/heritage overlay, a second storey can be accepted development. Over the height, or in a character overlay, it's a DA.

What counts as 'substantial' work under the character overlay?

Demolition and alterations that affect the pre-1947 character — particularly to the front and roof form — generally trigger assessment. Minor work behind the existing house is treated more leniently. Confirm against the overlay code for your specifics.

Does a heritage listing change things?

Yes — a heritage place (local or state) adds a separate heritage assessment on top of the character overlay, and the work is almost always assessable.

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