Two Bedroom Granny Flats in Queensland: Sizes, Rules and Costs in 2026
Last updated: 30 September 2026
A two bedroom granny flat is the most common secondary dwelling built in Queensland, and in most South East Queensland councils you can build one without a development application. Brisbane and the Gold Coast allow up to 80m². Logan allows 70m² on lots under 1,000m² and 100m² above that. Ipswich changed its rules in July 2025 and now bands the limit by lot size.
Two bedrooms is also where the design gets interesting, because the difference between a good two bedroom layout and a poor one has almost nothing to do with floor area.
Quick answer
Can you build a two bedroom granny flat in Queensland? Yes. In most South East Queensland councils it's accepted development, meaning no planning application required.
Maximum size Brisbane 80m². Gold Coast 80m², around 90m² rural. Logan 70m² or 100m² depending on lot size. Ipswich banded by lot size.
Is there a bedroom limit? Not in Brisbane, Gold Coast or Logan secondary dwellings. Ipswich's old one bedroom cap was removed in July 2025.
Typical size Most two bedroom secondary dwellings land between 50m² and 80m².
Can you rent it out? Yes, to anyone, since 26 September 2022.
Building approval Always required, through a private certifier.
How big can a two bedroom granny flat be?
The limit is set by your council, not by the number of bedrooms.
Brisbane — up to 80m² gross floor area as accepted development, attached or within 20 metres of the main house. Note that Major Amendment Package L is progressing, which proposes tying size to block size and restricting most secondary dwellings to a single storey.
Gold Coast — up to 80m² in the residential zones, around 90m² in rural and rural residential. Must be attached or within 10 metres of the main house, and share the main driveway. Going over 80m² triggers infrastructure charges of roughly $17,000 to $24,000.
Logan — 70m² on lots under 1,000m², 100m² on lots of 1,000m² or more. Within 20 metres of the main house, positioned beside, behind, above or below, not in front.
Ipswich — City Plan 2025 replaced the old scheme on 1 July 2025. The previous 50m² one bedroom auxiliary unit limit no longer applies, and maximum gross floor area is now banded by lot size.
Statewide — the Queensland Housing Code commenced on 1 September 2026, setting a state-level standard of 50m² internal floor area, or 60m² on lots of 1,000m² or larger. Council adoption is voluntary across a three year transition, so your council's planning scheme still governs until they adopt it.
One thing worth knowing: gross floor area usually excludes decks, patios and carports. It's measured around the outside of the walls. A generous covered deck adds real living space without touching your cap, which matters more on a two bedroom layout than almost anything else.
What actually fits in each size
Floor area alone doesn't tell you much. Here's what the ranges look like in practice.
50m² — two bedrooms, one bathroom, open plan living and kitchen. Works well where site cover is tight or the main house already has a large footprint. The second bedroom is genuinely usable rather than a study with a bed in it.
60m² — the most common two bedroom size in Queensland. Two proper bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, a real kitchen and a living area that seats people comfortably. This is the size most families land on.
70m² — two bedrooms with two bathrooms becomes comfortable rather than tight, and you get a separate laundry instead of a European cupboard.
80m² — the maximum in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast. Two large bedrooms with ensuite and main bathroom, generous living, proper storage. At this size a secondary dwelling stops feeling like a granny flat and starts feeling like a home.
The thing that actually decides whether a two bedroom works is ceiling height and light, not square metres. A 60m² home with a raked ceiling, north-facing glass and a covered deck lives far bigger than a 70m² box with 2.4 metre flat ceilings.
What does a two bedroom granny flat cost in Queensland?
There are four tiers in the Queensland market, and they're not comparable to each other.
Prefab and kit — supplied from around $80,000 to $100,000. That's supply only, not a finished home.
Basic site-built — roughly $160,000 to $190,000 for a standard 60m² build.
Architectural and Premium — $250,000 to $400,000 and above.
Rental income
Two bedrooms is the size that reaches the widest tenant pool — couples, small families, and downsizers, rather than just singles.
The market conditions are unusually favourable. Brisbane rents rose 6.6% over the year with vacancy at 0.9%, and secondary dwellings on the Gold Coast commonly achieve $450 to $800 a week depending on size, finish and location.
Two things to be aware of if you intend to tenant it:
It stays on the same title. A secondary dwelling is subordinate to the main house and can't be sold separately or strata titled.
Renting can trigger additional building requirements. Additional fire separation and sound transmission provisions of the building code may apply. Raise it with your certifier at design stage, not after.
Separate water metering is worth considering up front, and in Logan a separate meter is required.
Our two bedroom designs
Every design below is two bedrooms, with deck area listed separately because it doesn't count toward your gross floor area.
Under 60m² Seville 50 — 50m² plus 5m² deck, two bedrooms, one bathroom.
60m² — the common size Valencia 60 — 60m² plus 12m² deck, one bathroom. Amber 60 — 60m² plus 14m² deck, one bathroom. Arbour 60 — 60m² plus 9m² deck, one bathroom. Olive 60 — 60m² plus 26m² deck, two bathrooms. The most popular two bedroom home we build.
70m² Vespa 70 — 70m² plus 13m² deck, two bathrooms.
80m² — the maximum in Brisbane and Gold Coast Olive 80 — 80m² plus 26m² deck, two bathrooms. Onyx 80 — 80m² plus 29m² deck, two bathrooms. Jasper 80 — 80m² plus 22m² deck, two bathrooms.
See the full range or look through completed projects.
Frequently asked questions
How big can a two bedroom granny flat be in Queensland? It depends on your council. Brisbane and the Gold Coast allow up to 80m², Logan 70m² or 100m² depending on lot size, and Ipswich bands it by lot size. The new Queensland Housing Code sets a state-level figure of 50m², but council adoption is voluntary.
Is there a limit on bedrooms in a Queensland granny flat? Not for secondary dwellings in Brisbane, the Gold Coast or Logan. Ipswich removed its one bedroom cap on auxiliary units in July 2025.
Do I need council approval for a two bedroom granny flat? In most South East Queensland councils, no planning application is required if you meet the accepted development criteria. Building approval from a private certifier is always required.
Can I rent out a two bedroom granny flat? Yes, to anyone. Since 26 September 2022 there is no requirement that the occupant be related to the household in the main house.
How much does a two bedroom granny flat cost in Queensland? Anywhere from around $130,000 for a basic site-built home to $250,000 and above for architectural. The critical question is what's included — most advertised prices exclude site costs, service connections and approvals.
Do decks count toward the size limit? Generally no. Gross floor area is measured around the external walls and usually excludes decks, patios and carports. Confirm the definition for your council.
Can a two bedroom granny flat have two bathrooms? Yes. Several of our 60m² and larger designs include two bathrooms.
How long does it take to build? Roughly five to six weeks for approval where no development application is required, then ten to twelve weeks to build.
How Compact Homes can help
We design and manage the full approval process for architecturally designed secondary dwellings across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan and Ipswich, then hand over to a builder from our network.
Our approval package is $12,500 and covers architectural drawings, soil testing, engineering, surveying, certifier fees, energy efficiency compliance, and full management through to a building approval.
Get in touch with your address and we'll tell you what your block can take.
Related guides
Granny flat rules across Queensland — the statewide picture
We know the development requirements around secondary dwellings well, but we are not town planners. If you need formal planning advice, let us know and we can point you to someone. Planning rules change — always confirm the current position with your local council before relying on this guide.