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Secondary Dwellings (Granny Flats) in SEQ

Also known as: secondary dwelling · granny flat · auxiliary dwelling · dual key

A secondary dwelling — what most people call a granny flat — is the lowest-friction density play in SEQ. Most councils permit one as Accepted Development on a residential lot, subject to size limits and siting rules. The catch is whether the council allows separate tenancy (i.e. renting it to someone unrelated to the main dwelling occupants), which materially changes the yield.

Council-by-council snapshot

Brisbane City: secondary dwelling Accepted up to 80m² gross floor area, separate tenancy permitted. Logan: Accepted up to 70m², separate tenancy permitted in nominated precincts. Moreton Bay: among the most permissive — Accepted up to 90m² in many zones, separate tenancy widely allowed. Sunshine Coast: Accepted up to 70-80m² depending on zone, separate tenancy generally permitted. Gold Coast: Accepted up to 80m², separate tenancy nominated by zone. Ipswich: Accepted up to 80m², separate tenancy widely permitted.

When you need a DA

You need an MCU if you want to exceed the maximum size, build a second dwelling that doesn't qualify as 'secondary' (typically larger than the main dwelling), or breach a setback or height code. Casa Daily flags listings where a compliant secondary dwelling is genuinely buildable — accounting for the existing dwelling siting, the lot dimensions, and overlay constraints.

Yields

A code-compliant 70-80m² secondary dwelling typically costs $180,000-$280,000 to build (turn-key, Class 1a) and rents for $400-$650/week in SEQ. On a $700,000 site, that's a 3-4% gross yield bump — often the difference between an investment that holds and one that sells.

FAQ

Common questions.

Can I subdivide and sell the secondary dwelling separately?
Not without an RoL — by definition a secondary dwelling sits on the same lot as the main dwelling. To sell separately, you need to subdivide first (RoL) and then build (or retain) a dwelling on each new lot. That's a different and more expensive play.
Do secondary dwellings count toward density caps?
Generally no — they sit outside the unit count for residential density purposes in most SEQ schemes. This is why they're such a powerful yield tool.

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