What is MCU in Queensland planning?

MCU stands for Material Change of Use — one of the four development types defined by the Queensland Planning Act 2016. The other three are Reconfiguration of a Lot (RoL — subdivision), Operational Works (OPW — civil construction), and Building Works (BW — buildings).

You need an MCU whenever you: - Start a new use of premises (e.g. a single dwelling lot becoming townhouses). - Materially change the intensity of an existing use (e.g. dual occupancy → triple occupancy). - Re-establish a use that has lapsed (i.e. been discontinued for 12 months or more).

Common SEQ MCU triggers for investors: - Dual occupancy on a single-dwelling lot. - Multiple dwelling (townhouses, units) on any lot. - Secondary dwelling above the council's Accepted thresholds. - Rooming accommodation. - Short-term accommodation in a residential zone. - Home-based business above the council's prescribed thresholds.

MCU is either Code Assessable or Impact Assessable — the planning scheme's Categories of Development table for each zone tells you which. Code Assessable is faster, more certain, with no public notification. Impact Assessable is slower, requires public notification, and gives third parties appeal rights.

Read the full glossary entry for a worked Coorparoo townhouse MCU example: [Material Change of Use (MCU)](/learn/material-change-of-use-mcu).