Secondary Dwelling Council Requirements

Max Size
Up to 80m² total floor area


Zoning
Low Density Residential (most common)
May require further assessment depending on overlays


Setbacks (Very Important)
Side boundary: 1.5m – 2.0m+
Rear boundary: 1.5m – 2.0m+

👉 This means your secondary dwelling must sit at least 1.5m away from your side and rear fences


👉 Example:
If your block is 20m wide, you may lose:
1.5m on the left
1.5m on the right
= 3m total, leaving 17m buildable width


⚠️ In Noosa, setbacks can increase depending on:

1. Building height
2. Overlays (bushfire, environmental, etc.)
👉 So you may lose more usable space than expected


Key Requirements
Strong focus on design & character
May require bushfire, flood or environmental reports
Short-term accommodation restrictions may apply

Max Size
Up to 90m² total floor area


Zoning
Low Density Residential
Rural Residential


Setbacks (Very Important)
Side boundary: 1.5m minimum
Rear boundary: 1.5m minimum

👉 This means your secondary dwelling must sit at least 1.5m away from your side and rear fences

👉 Example:
If your block is 20m wide, you may lose:
1.5m on the left
1.5m on the right
= 3m total, leaving 17m buildable width

⚠️ Ask yourself: Do I still have enough space once setbacks are applied?


Key Requirements
Must be on same title as main dwelling
1 additional car space typically required
Overlays may apply (flood, bushfire, landslip)