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Development Application (DA) cost in Brisbane

$15,000–$80,000complete DA package, varies by type

Indicative all-in cost of a Brisbane Development Application is $15,000–$80,000 depending on type and complexity. Code Assessable RoL or simple MCU sit at the low end ($15K–$30K); Impact Assessable Multiple Dwelling MCUs sit at the high end ($50K–$80K+). Council application fees ($2K–$15K) are a small fraction; consultant fees are the bulk.

Line-by-line cost breakdown

Line itemRangeNotes
Council application fee — Code Assessable RoL$2,500–$5,000Brisbane City Council 2026 schedule.
Council application fee — Code Assessable MCU (dual occupancy)$3,500–$6,500Per dwelling-pair.
Council application fee — Impact Assessable MCU (multi-dwelling)$8,000–$18,000Plus per-dwelling levies on larger packs.
Town planner$8,000–$25,000Application preparation, lodgement, IR responses. Higher for impact assessable.
Architect / building designer$6,000–$30,000Concept and DA-stage drawings; rises sharply with multi-dwelling and complex sites.
Surveyor$5,000–$14,000Identification + survey plan + final plan of subdivision (RoL only).
Civil engineer$3,000–$12,000Stormwater + sewer + access design.
Specialist reports (acoustic, ecological, traffic)$0–$25,000Triggered by overlays / use type / pack size.
Public notification (Impact Assessable only)$1,500–$4,000Newspaper ad + on-site sign + neighbour letters.
Total$15,000–$80,000complete DA package, varies by type

Variables that move the total

  • Code vs Impact

    Impact Assessable adds 30-60% to consultant time and 6+ months of holding cost.

  • Specialist triggers

    Each specialist report (acoustic, traffic, ecological, heritage) adds $3-12K.

  • Site complexity

    Sloping, flood-affected, character-overlay sites add 20-50% to architect/planner time.

  • Pack size

    More dwellings = larger architect package; +$3-8K per dwelling on complex sites.

  • IR cycles

    Each IR cycle adds $2-6K of consultant time and 4-12 weeks of holding cost.

What's NOT included in the total

  • Operational works construction — separate budget.
  • Building Works approval (building certifier).
  • Infrastructure charges (issued post-approval).
  • Land cost.

Common questions about development application (da) cost in brisbane

What's the cheapest DA you can lodge in Brisbane?
A simple Code Assessable secondary dwelling MCU above Brisbane's Accepted thresholds runs ~$8-12K all-in (council fees + planner + minimal architectural). Almost any other DA type starts at $15K+.
Is the council fee the biggest cost?
No — council application fees are typically 10-20% of total DA cost. Town planner, architect, and engineering consultancy fees are the bulk. Specialist reports can spike costs further on complex sites.
Can I reduce DA costs by managing it myself?
On simple Code Assessable RoL applications in well-precedented zones — yes, you save $8-15K of planner fees. Most other DA types either need the planner's interpretation skill (impact assessable, character precincts) or the time savings on IR avoidance pay back the fee.

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