Secondary Dwelling Council Requirements

Max Size
A secondary dwelling may have one or two bedrooms with a maximum gross floor area of 65m². 
Unenclosed balconies, decks, car parking areas and stairwells are not included in the gross floor area calculation.


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


Setbacks (Very Important)
Side boundary: 1.5m – 2.0m+
Rear boundary: 3m

👉 This means your secondary dwelling must sit at least 1.5m away from your side boundary & 3m away from rear boundary


👉 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.
For properties in Rural and Rural Residential zones, different provisions 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.
One additional car space typically required.
Overlays may apply (flood, bushfire, landslip).