Moreton Bay · South East Queensland · Development guide
Subdividing in Moreton Bay: rules, approval and what the data shows
Zone rules from MBRC Planning Scheme 2016 plus real outcomes from decided Moreton Bay council applications. Data current as of 26 July 2026.
According to Casa Intelligence analysis of 2,508 decided reconfiguration and subdivision applications in Moreton Bay, 96% were approved, with a median decision time of 77 days.
96%
Approval rate
2,406 of 2,508 decided applications
77 days
Median decision time
Lodgement to decision (n=2,508)
2,508
Decided applications
Comparable reconfiguration and subdivision applications
$5,000
Median infra. charge
Across 33 charged decision notices
Do you need council approval for a subdivision in Moreton Bay?
Queensland's Planning Act 2016 sorts development into three assessment categories: accepted development (no development application needed if you meet the stated requirements), code assessable (a DA assessed against the planning scheme's codes, no public notification), and impact assessable (a DA with public notification and third-party appeal rights). Which category applies to your project is set by MBRC Planning Scheme 2016 — and it depends on your zone, any precinct that applies, and the overlays on your lot.
Subdividing — formally "reconfiguring a lot" — almost always requires a development application in Queensland; the real question is whether it is code or impact assessable and what minimum lot sizes apply. Under MBRC Planning Scheme 2016, subdivision is contemplated in 9 of the 16 zones we track for Moreton Bay.
Minimum new-lot sizes range from 300 m² to 1,000 m² across those zones (full table below), before overlays and precinct mapping are applied. Frontage minimums, access and servicing requirements knock out lots that clear the area test on paper — the block next door qualifying does not mean yours does.
None of this is answerable with certainty at council level — the pathway for your project is set by your lot's zone, precinct and overlays together. A free Casa block check reads those for your exact address in seconds.
Subdivision rules by zone in Moreton Bay
Zone-level provisions from MBRC Planning Scheme 2016. Zone rules are the starting point — precinct mapping and overlays can tighten them for individual lots.
| Zone | Subdivision | Min lot area | Min frontage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centre | Yes | — | — |
| Emerging Community | Yes | 300 m² | — |
| General Residential | Yes | 400 m² | 12.5 m |
| High Density Residential | Yes | 800 m² | 20 m |
| Industry | Yes | 1,000 m² | — |
| Low Density Residential | Yes | 400 m² | 10 m |
| Medium Density Residential | Yes | 300 m² | 10 m |
| Next Generation Neighbourhood | Yes | 300 m² | 10 m |
| Township | Yes | 600 m² | 15 m |
| Community Facilities | No | — | — |
| Extractive Industry | No | — | — |
| Environmental Management and Conservation | No | — | — |
| Limited Development (Constrained Land) | No | — | — |
| Recreation and Open Space | No | — | — |
| Rural Residential | No | — | — |
| Rural | No | — | — |
“—” means the value is not recorded in our rules dataset, not that no rule exists. Always confirm against the current planning scheme before relying on a figure.
How subdivision applications have fared in Moreton Bay
Across 2,508 decided reconfiguration and subdivision applications recorded against Moreton Bay council, 2,406 were approved — an approval rate of 96%. That reflects a strong track record for this kind of proposal. These are real, decided applications assessed by the council, not estimates or modelling.
The median time from lodgement to decision was 77 days (measured across the 2,508 applications in this cohort with both dates recorded). That is a fairly typical assessment timeframe for South East Queensland. Individual applications vary widely with information requests, referrals and the assessment pathway for the specific site.
Where we hold the council's decision notice, we also extract the infrastructure charges levied. Across 33 charged decision notices in this cohort, the median total infrastructure charge was $5,000. Charges scale with the lots or dwellings you create, and credits for existing use can reduce what you actually pay.
Recent subdivision decisions in Moreton Bay
The most recent decided reconfiguration and subdivision applications in this cohort, cited by real council application number so you can verify each one yourself.
| Application | Decision | Decided | Days to decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| DA/2025/4382 | Lapsed | 18 Feb 2026 | 161 days |
| DA/2025/3395 | Approved | 17 Feb 2026 | 214 days |
| DA/2025/3767 | Approved | 16 Feb 2026 | 192 days |
| DA/2026/0008 | Approved | 13 Feb 2026 | 39 days |
| DA/2025/3966 | Lapsed | 10 Feb 2026 | 174 days |
Subdivision in Moreton Bay: common questions
Do I need council approval for a subdivision in Moreton Bay?
It depends on your lot's zone, precinct and overlays under MBRC Planning Scheme 2016. Queensland sorts development into accepted (no DA if requirements are met), code assessable (DA without public notification) and impact assessable (DA with public notification). Subdivision almost always requires a development application. The only reliable way to know your pathway is to check your specific address.
Which zones allow subdivision development in Moreton Bay?
Under MBRC Planning Scheme 2016, subdivision development is contemplated in Centre, Emerging Community, General Residential, High Density Residential, Industry, Low Density Residential and 3 other zones. Zone permission is the starting point, not the answer: precinct mapping and overlays can restrict individual lots within a supportive zone.
What is the approval rate for subdivision applications in Moreton Bay?
96% of the 2,508 decided reconfiguration and subdivision applications recorded against Moreton Bay council were approved (median 77 days to decision). Figures are indicative, derived from decided council records; past decisions do not guarantee future outcomes.
How long does subdivision approval take in Moreton Bay?
The median time from lodgement to decision across the 2,508 dated applications in this cohort was 77 days. Individual applications vary with information requests, referrals and the assessment pathway that applies to the site.
How much are infrastructure charges for subdivision projects in Moreton Bay?
Across 33 charged decision notices in this cohort, the median total infrastructure charge was $5,000. Charges scale with the lots or dwellings created and existing-use credits can reduce them. Queensland caps adopted charges at $36,670.70 per three-or-more-bedroom dwelling or lot (2025–26 indexed).
About this guide
Zone rules on this page are drawn from MBRC Planning Scheme 2016 as recorded in our dataset, and application statistics from decided development applications recorded against Moreton Bay council, current as of 26 July 2026. Planning schemes are amended over time and precincts, neighbourhood plans and overlays can vary the rules for individual lots. Past decisions describe how comparable proposals have fared — they do not guarantee, and cannot predict, the outcome of any future application. This page is general information, not planning or legal advice.
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