By Azrah Madden, Principal, Madden Estate Agents, Ipswich
Ipswich City Plan 2025 is Ipswich City Council’s planning scheme. It took effect on 1 July 2025 and replaced the scheme that had been in place since 2006. It decides what you can build on your land, how small new lots can be, and where more housing is allowed. If you own a home in Ipswich, it quietly shapes what your property is worth.
This guide covers the changes homeowners ask us about most. It is general information, not planning advice. Every property needs to be checked on its own merits.
The short version
- The plan took effect on 1 July 2025.
- Council says it makes room for around 100,000 new homes over 20 years, including an estimated 22,000 secondary dwellings.
- In most established residential areas, a granny flat or dual occupancy no longer needs planning approval, as long as it fits the size limits. Building and plumbing approvals are still required.
- Gentle density of one to three storeys is now supported in well located suburbs such as Booval, Dinmore, Bundamba, Ebbw Vale, Riverview, Goodna and Wulkuraka.
- Minimum lot sizes now depend on your zone, your precinct and the Building Height and Density Overlay.
Granny flats and dual occupancy are easier
This is the biggest change for most homeowners. Council removed the need for planning approval in most cases for secondary dwellings and dual occupancies in established residential areas. The size you can build depends on your block:
| Lot size | Secondary dwelling (granny flat) | Dual occupancy |
|---|---|---|
| 450 to 600 sqm | Up to 60 sqm | Not permitted without approval |
| 600 to 800 sqm | Up to 90 sqm | Up to 120 sqm |
| Over 800 sqm | Up to 120 sqm | Up to 150 sqm |
Figures are gross floor area, as published by Ipswich City Council. Setbacks, height and parking rules still apply. We cover this in more detail in our guide to granny flats and dual occupancy in Ipswich.
Where more density is allowed
The plan steers higher density towards centres and public transport, including around the Ipswich CBD, Springfield Central and future stations on the planned Ipswich to Springfield corridor. In established suburbs such as Booval, Dinmore, Bundamba, Ebbw Vale, Riverview, Goodna and Wulkuraka, council now supports gentle density: townhouses and small unit buildings of one to three storeys.
Elsewhere, council has said it wants to keep the traditional detached house character of established streets. That is why checking your exact zone and overlays matters so much.
Minimum lot sizes and subdivision
Whether you can subdivide depends on your zone, your precinct and the Building Height and Density Overlay, which can set a different figure for your specific parcel. In the Low Density Residential zone, typical minimums range from 300 sqm for new suburban lots to 4,000 sqm in the Large Lot precinct, with many established streets sitting around 600 sqm.
Frontage, access and the position of the existing house often matter as much as total area. Our guide Can I Subdivide My Block in Ipswich? walks through the rules step by step.
Overlays still decide a lot
Flood, bushfire, landslide, koala habitat, vegetation, mining and airport overlays can all change what is possible on a block. Council has also strengthened flood resilience requirements for new development. Two blocks of the same size in the same street can have very different potential because of an overlay.
How to check your own property
- Look up your address in council’s planning scheme mapping to find your zone, precinct and overlays.
- Check the Building Height and Density Overlay for your minimum lot size.
- Search your address on council’s Development.i portal to see past applications on and around your property.
- If you are thinking of selling, ask for an appraisal that includes a development check, so the land is valued for what it can become, not just what is on it.
What City Plan 2025 means when you sell
A block that can take a granny flat, a dual occupancy or an extra lot appeals to more buyers: families wanting space for relatives, investors chasing extra rent, and builders or small developers. More buyer types usually means stronger competition.
The risk is selling without knowing. We regularly meet owners who have no idea their block has potential under the new plan. Every appraisal we do includes a development check against City Plan 2025, using real council zoning and overlay data.
Frequently asked questions
When did Ipswich City Plan 2025 start?
It took effect on 1 July 2025, replacing the planning scheme that had applied since 2006.
Do I need council approval for a granny flat in Ipswich?
In most established residential areas, no planning approval is needed if the granny flat fits the size limits for your lot size. You still need building and plumbing approval.
Which Ipswich suburbs allow more density under the new plan?
Council has named Booval, Dinmore, Bundamba, Ebbw Vale, Riverview, Goodna and Wulkuraka as suburbs where gentle density of one to three storeys is supported, along with centres such as the Ipswich CBD and Springfield Central.
Can the new plan change what my property is worth?
It can. If the plan allows a second dwelling, extra lots or townhouses on your land, more types of buyers may be interested. An appraisal that includes a development check will tell you where your property stands.
Find out what your land can do
Every appraisal we do looks at the house and the land, including whether your block could be subdivided, take a second dwelling or has development value under City Plan 2025. It is free, it is done in person, and there is no obligation. Request a free appraisal or call Azrah Madden on 0400 516 626.