Brisbane Airbnb and short-stay rules

Brisbane does not run a citywide Airbnb permit. Whether you need council approval depends on City Plan 2014 zoning — Centre and Mixed Use are often accepted development; Low Density Residential is typically Impact Assessable. Re-verify with Council before you lodge — this area is unsettled.

Last verified 16 August 2026

View Brisbane City Council's official STRA / short-stay guidance →

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At a glance

Key facts for Brisbane City Council

Citywide permit / register	None. Proposed Short Stay Accommodation Local Law 2025 withdrawn 12 May 2026 — not proceeding at this time
Planning scheme	Brisbane City Plan 2014 — short-term accommodation assessed by zone, not via a separate permit scheme
Accepted development (typical)	Centre and Mixed Use zones — no formal DA if the relevant code is met
Impact assessable (typical)	Low Density Residential zones — full development application, public notification, third-party objection/appeal rights
Night / rates trigger	Whole-home short-stay over 60 nights/year: Transitory Accommodation rates surcharge (~50%; ~2.3× standard residential for 2026–27)
Statewide register	Queensland has no statewide short-stay register (unlike Western Australia)
Body corporate	Community titles by-laws can still prohibit or condition short-stay use
Smoke alarms	Statewide Queensland interconnection rules — full compliance by 1 January 2027
Contact	Brisbane City Council — brisbane.qld.gov.au STRA / short-stay page →
Status note	Actively unsettled — Council and LGAQ continue lobbying for statewide registration; re-verify before advising or lodging

What to submit

Documents required for your application

✓ Lot zoning and assessment category under Brisbane City Plan 2014 (PD Online)
✓ Any existing development approvals that already authorise short-term or tourist accommodation
✓ Body corporate by-laws if the property is in a community titles scheme
✓ Confirmation of the current Council rates category (Transitory Accommodation if applicable)
✓ If Impact Assessable: development application forms, site and floor plans, responses to the relevant codes, guest/noise/parking management material, and the Council DA fee
✓ Queensland smoke-alarm and pool-safety certificates where they apply

Things to know

Before you apply

Do not rely on pre–May 2026 articles that describe a 1 July 2026 citywide permit, one-hour complaint response, or blanket cease-operating letters under that local law — Council withdrew it.
“Not proceeding at this time” does not mean every Brisbane Airbnb is lawful. If the use is not accepted development or already approved on the lot, Council can still require a DA and run complaint-based compliance.
Impact Assessable applications include public notification and third-party appeal risk — timelines can extend well beyond a standard code assessment.
Rates surcharge (over 60 nights) is separate from planning approval — paying higher rates does not replace a DA if City Plan requires one.
Statewide context and other QLD councils: see our Queensland Airbnb rules guide.

FAQ

Common questions

Do I need a Brisbane Airbnb permit in 2026?+

No citywide permit is being issued. On 12 May 2026 Council withdrew the Proposed Short Stay Accommodation Local Law 2025. You may still need a development application under City Plan 2014 depending on zoning.

Do councils have to approve every Airbnb in Brisbane?+

No. Some lots are accepted development (often Centre / Mixed Use). Low Density Residential short-term accommodation is typically Impact Assessable and does need a full DA.

What is the approval process if Impact Assessable?+

Lodge a full development application with plans and code responses, go through public notification, and remain open to third-party objections or appeals. We prepare and lodge the MCU / DA pack where required.

What about the rates surcharge?+

Whole-home short stays over 60 nights a year generally attract the Transitory Accommodation rates category — roughly 2.3× standard residential for 2026–27. That is separate from planning approval.

Does Queensland have a statewide register like Western Australia?+

No. There is no Queensland STRA registration number and no statewide night cap. Rules sit with each council, plus body corporate by-laws.

Can I list without any Council approval?+

Only if the use is accepted development or already lawfully established on the lot. We check zoning and existing approvals from the address before you spend on an application.

Nearby

Other councils, shires and towns in this area

City of Gold Coast Sunshine Coast Council Noosa Shire Council