Assessment criteria and categories of development

The Logan Planning Scheme guides what development can occur where. It also gives us the criteria we follow when we assess proposed development in Logan.

Whether an application and approval is needed depends on the type and location of the proposed development. To find out more you can:

  • use the planning enquiry tool in the Logan PD Hub to get a report telling you if a development application is needed. It will also list the relevant parts of the Logan Planning Scheme you need to look at
  • contact our team for more information and to talk about whether an application is needed for your proposed development
  • follow the steps below.

Step 1 – Type of development

You will first need to know what type of development you are proposing. The development types are included in the table below.

Development Description
Reconfiguring a lot (subdividing)

Reconfiguring a lot is subdividing or combining lots, rearranging boundaries, dividing lots by agreement or creating an access easement.

For more information, please see Reconfiguring a lot.

Material change of use

A material change of use is:

  • starting a new use for a premises
  • re-establishing a use that was abandoned
  • increasing the intensity or scale of the use of the premises.

If your development is for a material change of use, you will also need to know the proposed use (e.g. dwelling house, retail activity, childcare centre, home-based business, low-impact industry, retirement facility, etc.)

For definitions about the use of a premises, please see Logan Planning Scheme – Schedule 1 (Definitions).

Operational work

Operational work is work that materially affects a premises or the use of the premises (not including building work or plumbing and drainage work).

For more information, please see Operational Work.

Building work

Building work includes:

  • building
  • repairing
  • altering
  • underpinning (vertical or lateral support)
  • moving or demolishing a building or other structure

For example, if a residential property has a house, building work may include a shed, carport, extension or swimming pool.

For more information, please see Before building.

Plumbing or drainage work

Plumbing or drainage work includes domestic and commercial plumbing and drainage, including on-site sewerage facilities.

For more information, please see Plumbing and drainage.

Step 2 – Location

When you know the type of proposed development, you can find out what parts of the Logan Planning Scheme apply to the location. This is based on what zone the property is in, and if any local plans or overlays affect the property.

The zone explains what the land should be used for (e.g. houses, industry, farms, parks, etc.).

Some areas have local plans that are designed to make sure people can easily access jobs, shops and services like doctors, childcare centres and schools.

Planning scheme overlays show areas where we manage natural hazards (e.g. bushfires and flooding) and infrastructure (e.g. for water, roads, energy), and where we protect the things we value like our history and environment.

You can find your property using the text address or map search in our Logan PD Hub. To find your property, please:

  1. Click on the planning enquiry tool.
  2. Click on What can I do here to see a list of potential development on that property.
  3. Click on your proposed development to get a report which shows you:
    • the zone your property is in, and whether a local plan applies
    • any overlays that affect your property
    • whether you need a development application (the category of development and assessment)
    • the parts of the Logan Planning Scheme which set out the criteria (assessment benchmarks) you must meet.

The category of development and assessment tells you if you need our approval for your development. It may say:

  • accepted development (not subject to requirements) – no application is needed
  • accepted development (subject to requirements) – no application is needed if you meet all of the criteria listed (nominated in the Tables of Assessment (Part 5) of the Logan Planning Scheme)
  • assessable development (code or impact assessable) – an application needs to be lodged to us
  • prohibited development – the development cannot be done.

It is against the law to carry out accepted development without meeting the criteria, or to carry out assessable development without getting an approval permit.