Under the Planning Act 2016, every development in Queensland falls into one of three categories of development and, if assessable, one of two categories of assessment. The combination determines whether you need a DA, whether the public gets a say, and what council can consider.
Your project meets all the rules in the planning scheme — zone, overlays, and development codes. You do not need a development application. You may still need building approval from a certifier.
Example: A single house in a residential zone that meets all setback, height and site cover standards, with no overlays triggered.
Your project can proceed without a DA as long as you meet specific, identified requirements in the planning scheme. If you cannot meet those requirements, it becomes code or impact assessable.
Example: A domestic outbuilding (shed, carport) that meets prescribed size, height and siting rules in the planning scheme.
Council must assess your DA, but ONLY against the planning scheme codes — the assessment benchmarks. They cannot refuse it on broader planning grounds. Most QLD DAs are code assessable. This is the most common category.
Example: A secondary dwelling (granny flat) in a residential zone, or a house extension that varies a setback standard.
The highest level of assessment. Council assesses against the whole planning scheme AND any other relevant matters. Public notification is required — neighbours and the community can make submissions. Third-party appeal rights apply.
Example: A material change of use in a zone where the use is impact assessable, or a development that triggers multiple overlays with no code pathway.
The assessment category for your project is set by your council's planning scheme. Check the tables of assessment in the scheme.
The tables of assessment in your council's planning scheme assign each type of development in each zone to one of the assessment levels. The same project — a secondary dwelling — can be accepted development in one zone and code assessable in another, even within the same council area. Overlays add another layer and can move the assessment up a level.
In practice, the most significant difference between code and impact assessment is public notification. For code assessment (the most common category for residential DAs), council cannot consider public submissions. For impact assessment, public notification is required — a sign on the site, notice to neighbours, and often a newspaper advertisement. Submitters who are affected persons gain appeal rights to the Planning and Environment Court.
Most residential DAs in Queensland are code assessable. Impact assessment is typically reserved for larger developments, uses inconsistent with the zone intent, or sites with multiple overlapping constraints.
For both code and impact assessment, a planning report is the core document. It addresses each applicable assessment benchmark — the zone code, development codes, and overlay codes. instantDA generates this report from QLD planning scheme data for $169.
Yes. Code assessment does not mean automatic approval — council must still assess the DA against the planning scheme codes and can refuse it if the proposal does not comply. The difference is that council can only refuse on planning scheme grounds, not broader planning considerations.
Only the council as assessment manager can confirm the category. If there is uncertainty, you can request a confirmation notice under the Planning Act 2016 — a formal determination of the assessment category before you lodge.
Correct. For code assessment, public notification is not required and council cannot consider public submissions. Impact assessment, by contrast, requires public notification and allows submissions with appeal rights.