4. Guide to student accommodation
Brisbane City Plan 2014 (City Plan) has been developed by Brisbane City Council in consultation with the community to
support a simple, fast and clear development assessment process. The plan guides how land in Brisbane can be used
and developed to support economic growth, while protecting our city’s enviable way of life.
Brisbane City Plan 2014 replaces Brisbane City Plan
2000.
Examples of residential uses that are not rooming
accommodation include:
This factsheet provides information on how City Plan
regulates student accommodation and when
development and building approvals are needed.

dwelling houses

short-term accommodation
Council recognises that accommodation for local and
international tertiary students is important for our city’s
economy. City Plan makes it easier to provide
accommodation for visiting students that is safe, close
to education campuses and well-integrated within
residential neighbourhoods.
 multiple dwellings.
When does a house become a rooming
accommodation use?
A premises leased by several people, each under a
rooming accommodation agreement, is considered to
be several discrete households under Brisbane City
Plan 2014 and the Residential Tenancies and Rooming
Accommodation Act 2008.
What is student accommodation?
Student accommodation, along with other types of
boarding or hostel accommodation, falls under the
broader definition of rooming accommodation. Rooming
accommodation is the use of residential premises for
the accommodation of one or more households where
each resident:
Under City Plan, a dwelling house can only be occupied
by one household. As such, a house occupied by
tenants under a rooming accommodation agreement
cannot be defined as a dwelling house, and must be
approved for rooming accommodation use.
 has a right to occupy one or more rooms
Do I need to lodge an application for student
accommodation?
To find out if you need to lodge an application for
student accommodation (i.e. rooming accommodation),
you can assess your proposed development against
criteria outlined in the Rooming accommodation code,
Section 9.3.19 of City Plan.
 does not have a right to occupy the whole of the
premises in which the rooms are situated
 may be provided with separate facilities for private
use
 may share communal facilities or communal space
with one or more of the other residents.
To make things easier for rooming accommodation
providers, Council has identified a number of criteria
which, if met, mean that you may not need to submit a
planning application. This is referred to as being selfassessable.
The use may include:
 rooms not in the same building onsite
 provision of food or other services
To be self-assessable, the development must
accommodate no more than five people in the dwelling
(including any secondary dwelling on the same lot), and
must provide*:
 onsite management or staff and associated
accommodation.
Examples of rooming accommodation include:

two onsite parking spaces
 off-site student accommodation

acceptable standards of health, safety and amenity
for residents and allow for the safe evacuation of
occupants (satisfying MP 2.1 and MP 5.7 of the
Queensland Development Code will address these
criteria)
 boarding houses
 hostels.
1

no more than one meter box, one letter box and
three bins where located in a former Class 1a
building (houses and townhouses)
residents of new developments where a development
application is made to Council after 31 March 2015.

screened bin storage for three bins.
Building approval
Building approval is separate from planning approval.
Private building certifiers are responsible for building
approvals and must lodge all relevant building approval
and certification documentation with Council.
* Refer to the Rooming accommodation code in City
Plan for the full list of criteria that must be satisfied to
establish a rooming accommodation use.
The standards above ensure that student
accommodation fits seamlessly into residential
neighbourhoods and has good levels of fire and
evacuation safety.
If the proposed development does not meet all of these
requirements, you will need to lodge a development
application. New development accommodating six
people or more requires development approval and is
only encouraged in the Medium and High density
residential zones, or on a site that does not adjoin a
dwelling house in the Low medium density residential
zone.
Preferred locations
City Plan allows for rooming accommodation for a
maximum of five people in the Low density and
Character residential zones. Buildings in these zones
must have the appearance of a dwelling house
occupied by a single household and must be used for
domestic purposes. The Rooming accommodation code
is used for self-assessable development where there is
no increase in gross floor area. The Dwelling house
code or Dwelling house (small lot) code is also used
with the Rooming accommodation code where there is
an increase in gross floor area or is otherwise
assessable development.
Development accommodating six people or more is
encouraged in the Medium and High density residential
zones, all Centre zones, Specialised centre (Major
education) zone precinct and the Mixed use zone.
Rooming accommodation in the residential zones must
be located within easy walking distance of highfrequency public transport and a higher education
campus or teaching hospital. The Multiple dwelling code
or Centre or mixed use code, in addition to the Rooming
accommodation code, is used to assess new
development.
Self-contained rooming accommodation
Rooms with separate facilities for private use must
provide a higher rate of parking.
Managing amenity expectations
Rooming accommodation must be consistent with the
amenity and residential density expectations of the
relevant zone and must minimise impacts on
neighbouring dwellings and other sensitive uses.
Future residents of new student accommodation within
traffic and parking permit areas will not be eligible for an
on-street parking permit so it is important that adequate
onsite carparks are provided. This change will apply to
Buildings used for rooming accommodation must
comply with the applicable building code to meet the
necessary standards of health, safety and amenity for
occupants. The property owner is responsible for
ensuring the building meets the requirements for its
classification.
Detached houses are Class 1a buildings and must only
be used by a family or other single household group.
Other residential uses such as rooming accommodation
(which includes student accommodation) are not
appropriate in these types of buildings.
If an existing Class 1a building is being used for
rooming accommodation, it must be assessed and
approved by a private building certifier to remain fit for
use and occupation. Additional requirements may then
be imposed to boost structural integrity, fire safety and
resistance, disability access and other aspects of health
and amenity.
Enforcement for planning or building compliance
It is an offence to make changes to a building without
the relevant planning or building approvals. This
includes using or occupying a building that fails to
comply with the necessary building code requirements.
Council monitors and enforces these requirements as
part of its development and building laws.
If an existing dwelling is being used in contravention of
the Rooming accommodation code, or if changes are
made without the necessary approvals (including from a
building certifier), Council may take action to ensure the
wellbeing of occupants is not compromised. The safety
of occupants is a serious matter and Council will apply
zero tolerance to suspected non-compliance with
planning, building and fire safety requirements.
Student accommodation register
Council recognises the importance of Brisbane’s private
sector in providing rooming accommodation for
students. Council is therefore implementing a register
for student accommodation. This recognises good
practice and encourages responsible property owners
to continue to provide students with good-quality,
private, rented accommodation.
By joining the register, property owners show that they
are committed to maintaining their property and offering
good-quality student accommodation. Those that
register will benefit from the following.
 The opportunity to resolve minor compliance and
nuisance issues without formal Council intervention
in the first instance.
2
 Improved customer satisfaction with the services
they receive from Council.
 Quicker access to Council information.
 The opportunity to work with Council to ensure their
property meets building, planning and other
requirements to avoid penalties.
Council will write to property owners that it believes are
providing rooming accommodation and encourage them
to register.
To register, property owners must first nominate a
person responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and
operation of the property. This person, for example the
property owner, property manager or real estate agent,
will be the key contact for any issues that arise. Council
will deal with this person initially, rather than using more
formal process.
Council appreciates industry support in this matter and
hopes to collaborate further with industry
representatives and owners of student rooming
accommodation in the future.
More information
For more information about City Plan visit
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search for Brisbane City
Plan 2014, or phone Council on (07) 3403 8888.
Disclaimer: The content of this information sheet is a
summary and has been prepared to assist the reader to
understand City Plan. Please refer to the full City Plan
document, entitled Brisbane City Plan 2014, on
Council’s website for further detail.
Owners can then complete an online form on Council’s
website. The form must include the following details:

the address of the property

confirmation that students are being accommodated
under separate tenancies

the number of residents at the property

details of the nominated person responsible for the
day-to-day maintenance and operation of the
property, i.e. name, phone number and email
address.
2