Subdividing Land in Brisbane

So are you thinking about subdividing you land? In this article we will attempt to explain subdivision of land in Brisbane City Council.

What is Subdivision?

Subdivision is basically dividing a block into parts. Subdivision is also changing the boundary of two or more lots. A development application to Brisbane City Council will be required with almost any subdivision.

Zones

Land in Brisbane City Council is classified with zones or areas. For now we will only look at the most common type: Low Density Residential Area

Low Density Residential Area is the most common area in Brisbane City Council. The minimum lot size in this area is 400m2 with a minimum of 10 metre frontage. The Council will not be very supportive of applications for lots less than 400m2.

There are a number of ways that a property can be subdivided. We will show you three different scenarios

Scenario 1

One of the most common types of subdivision is where a property is 800m2 with a 20m frontage and contains an existing house. In this scenario you can subdivide the land by creating two lots of 400m2 with a 10m frontage. The existing house will need to be demolished (make sure that you check if you are allowed to demolish the existing house).The result will be two long narrow lots that are capable of containing two houses.

Feasibility:

Figure1 - 800m2 lot into two 400m2 lots subdivision

Scenario 2

Purchase a property that is 800m2 on a corner block containing an existing house. In this scenario you can subdivide the land by creating two lots of 400m2 with a 12m frontage. Check if you can keep the existing house or move it to be wholly contained in the new lot. The result will be two 400m2 lots with a minimum of 12m frontage and one of the lots contains the existing house.

Feasibility:

Figure 2 - Subdivision of one 800m2 lot into two 400m2 lots

Scenario 3

Purchase a property that is 1100m2 with a 18m frontage containing an existing house. In this scenario you can subdivide the land by creating one lot of 400m2 with a 13m frontage and one lot of 600m2 being a rear lot (battle axe lot) with a 5m road frontage containing the existing house.

Feasibility:

Please note: This information is in its simplest form and should be used as a general guide only. All numbers and calculations are very general examples. These calculations are not accurate and are designed to provide an idea of what the costs and profits might be. This is not a legal document or advice. For detailed assessment of your property or advice you should consult your local town planner or Brisbane City Council.