Granny flats are having a moment in Gympie. With rental restrictions lifted back in 2022, more landowners are building secondary dwellings to house family or bring in rental income. But before you order a kit home or call a builder, it pays to understand what Gympie Regional Council actually requires — because getting the siting wrong can turn a straightforward project into a costly redesign.
What counts as a “secondary dwelling”?
Under the Gympie Regional Council Planning Scheme 2013, a secondary dwelling — commonly called a granny flat — is a dwelling on your lot that’s used in conjunction with, but subordinate to, your main house. It can be attached, built underneath, or freestanding, and since September 2022 it can legally be rented out to anyone, not just family.
If you’re in the Residential Living, Residential Choice, Character Residential, Tourist Accommodation, Industry Investigation, Rural, Rural Residential, or Township Zone, a secondary dwelling is generally “accepted development” — meaning no planning approval, just a building and plumbing permit. Step outside those conditions and you’ll need a material change of use application instead.
The rule that catches people out: the 20-metre limit
Council requires the secondary dwelling to sit no further than 20 metres from the outermost projection of your primary dwelling (this includes an integrated garage). It also can’t sit in front of the main house. On a small suburban block that’s rarely an issue — but on the acreage and rural residential blocks common around Gympie, 20 metres disappears fast once you factor in existing sheds, dams, or slope.
This is exactly where a survey earns its keep. You need to know precisely where your primary dwelling’s outermost point sits, where your boundaries are, and where any easements or setbacks apply — before you commit to a site for the new build. Guessing the distance by eye, or off an old title plan, is how people end up with a slab poured in the wrong spot.
Other requirements to check off
- Size: gross floor area capped at 70m², and the secondary dwelling must stay visibly smaller than the main house.
- Access: it shares your existing driveway — no separate crossover.
- Services: telecommunications, power, and rubbish collection are shared with the main dwelling, though a separate water meter is required.
- Subdivision: a secondary dwelling can never be titled or sold off separately.
- Character Residential Zone: additional acceptable outcomes apply under the zone code, so check this before you design.
Infrastructure charges don’t apply to secondary dwellings, which helps offset the cost of getting the siting right.
Why a survey should be your first call, not your last
A lot of granny flat projects start with a floor plan and end with a council query about setbacks. Flipping that order saves time and money. A boundary survey confirms exactly where your title boundaries sit, so you’re not guessing at setbacks or accidentally encroaching on a neighbour. From there, a construction survey pegs out the exact building footprint on site, confirms levels, and gives your builder or certifier the accurate reference points they need to lodge plans and start work with confidence.
For sloping or rural blocks, we’ll also flag drainage, easements, and any existing structures that affect where the 20-metre measurement actually lands — details that are easy to miss from a desktop assessment alone.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need council approval for a granny flat in Gympie?
Not always. If you meet all the accepted development criteria — zone, 20m distance, 70m² size cap, access, and siting — you generally only need building and plumbing permits. Miss one criterion and a material change of use application is required.
Can I rent my granny flat out separately?
Yes. Since the Planning Regulation changed on 26 September 2022, the primary dwelling and secondary dwelling can be leased independently of one another.
Can I subdivide and sell the granny flat separately?
No. A secondary dwelling can never be titled or sold separately from the main lot.
How do I know if my block can fit a compliant granny flat?
The most reliable way is a site survey. It confirms your boundaries, the primary dwelling’s outermost point, and whether your intended location falls within the 20-metre rule before you finalise a design.
Get your site checked before you build
Every block is different, and the 20-metre rule plays out differently depending on your home’s shape, your slope, and what’s already on site. If you’re planning a secondary dwelling anywhere in the Gympie region, get in touch and we’ll confirm your boundaries and siting before you spend a dollar on design.