We’ve just stumbled across the announcement that the Logan Plan 2025 will be going on public consultation come September 1st. What does this mean? It means you can lodge submissions to change your zone, amend the scheme etc. Very important if you own property in Logan. Steffan Harries has compared the old scheme, with the new one and whilst there have been a lot of ‘administrative’ changes (as expected), the below summarises the impact on housing in the Logan City Council region. Also, take a look at the whole new scheme here.

Dwelling house

• Category of assessment
  • 2025: Dwelling house is accepted development subject to requirements across the residential zones. If it is a terrace house, you must use the Terrace House Code. The LMR table makes this explicit, and the editor’s note caps terrace houses to sub-300 m² lots.
• Codes to comply with
  • 2025: A dedicated Dwelling House Code (9.2.4) now applies, with its own Acceptable Outcomes. It also contains alternative provisions to QDC for siting and related matters, which trigger referral if not met.
  • 2015: The Dwelling house provisions sat under different structures and relied more directly on QDC siting with supporting zone code provisions. 2025 formalises a single Dwelling House Code and lists the alternative QDC provisions in Part 1 of the scheme for clarity.
• Built form controls
  • 2025: Clear site cover table in the Dwelling House Code: 60% for lots under 450 m², 50% for 450–2,000 m², etc . Small lots also pick up impervious area limits to manage runoff.
• New option
  • 2025: Terrace house is formalised as a Dwelling house subtype on lots under 300 m², with its own Terrace House Code referenced in the tables and noted among the scheme’s alternative QDC provisions.

Dual occupancy

• Category of assessment
  • 2025, Low density residential (LDR): Accepted development subject to requirements where the lot meets a precinct-based minimum area. Examples: Large Suburban and Small Suburban, 525 m²; Suburban, 700 m²; Village, 875 m² .
  • 2025, Low-medium density residential (LMR): Accepted development subject to requirements on lots of at least 500 m² .
  • 2025, Local plan areas can convert some locations to code assessment, but the use remains anticipated. See Loganlea-Meadowbrook where Dual occupancy is code assessable in a specified precinct list .
• Codes to comply with
  • 2025: A standalone Dual Occupancy Code (9.2.3) now benchmarks the use, with explicit references to QDC MP 1.3 and site frontage AO1 = 15 m .
• 2015 comparison on intensity
  • 2015, LDR overall outcomes used numeric density statements for Dual occupancy in the Village precinct, eg 22 dwellings per hectare with 875 m² lots (alongside Multiple dwellings figures in other LDR precincts) .
  • 2025 retains minimum lot sizes in LDR for Dual occupancy but drops the explicit numeric eph caps in LDR zone outcomes, instead saying Dual occupancy has a density consistent with its intended use .

Multiple dwelling

• Category of assessment
  • 2025, Medium density residential (MDR): Multiple dwelling is code assessable with a dedicated Multiple Dwelling Code (9.2.7) plus Residential Design Code and other development codes .
  • 2025, LMR and local plans: LMR zone purpose and tables support a mix of dwelling types, with multiple dwellings assessed against LMR and development codes, and the Residential Design Code commonly picked up where listed in the tables .
• Built form controls
  • 2025, LMR: Height AO6 = 12 m. Site cover AO7 = 65% for Accommodation activity other than caretaker’s, dual occupancy, dwelling house; otherwise 45% .
  • 2025, MDR: Height AO5 = 18 m near lower zones or 32 m elsewhere. Site cover AO6 mirrors LMR (65% for accommodation, otherwise 45%) .
• 2015 comparison on density
  • 2015, LMR zone used explicit net density caps: AO2 up to 75 equivalent dwellings per hectare (Apartment precinct), AO3 up to 40 equivalent dwellings (eph) (Townhouse precinct) .
  • 2015, LDR zone allowed Multiple dwellings only in specified precincts with numeric caps, eg Small Suburban 33 eph, Suburban 25 eph, Village 20 eph (with contextual limits for duals and other dwelling choices) .
  • 2025 removes those numeric eph caps from the LMR and MDR zone codes. It shifts control to building height, site cover and design benchmarks. MDR zone purpose confirms it is about medium density multiple dwellings, but does not state eph limits .

Scheme-wide shifts that change how easy or hard housing approvals are

• Split use codes and a new design code
  • 2015 grouped Multiple dwelling, Rooming accommodation and Short-term accommodation under one code (9.3.5), which the tables regularly referenced .
  • 2025 splits these into separate use codes (eg 9.2.7 Multiple Dwelling, 9.2.12 Rooming, 9.2.15 Short-term) and introduces the Residential Design Code (9.3.8). LMR and MDR tables list that design code as an extra benchmark for many residential uses .
  • Net effect: more codes to check for a given application, but clearer expectations on landscaping, deep planting and amenity outcomes built into the Residential Design Code .
• Move away from numeric density, toward form-based controls
  • 2015 anchored residential yield with explicit net density limits in LDR and LMR precincts for Multiple dwellings (and set village-style densities for Dual occupancy) .
  • 2025 drops eph numbers from the zone codes and instead sets height and site cover standards in LMR and MDR, with local plans taking a greater role for where more height fits. LMR AO6 = 12 m and AO7 sets site cover; MDR has 18 m or 32 m height depending on interface and similar site cover limits .
  • Planning intent still speaks to putting higher density near centres and good transport, but the operative control is now building form rather than an eph number .
• Accepted development pathways expanded and made clearer
  • Dual occupancy is accepted on 500 m² in LMR and on stated minimum lots by precinct in LDR in 2025, which is a straightforward pathway if you meet the lot tests and the Dual Occupancy Code AOs .
  • Dwelling house remains accepted subject to requirements, with a clearer code structure, plus a specific path for terrace houses on sub-300 m² lots .
• Workload for assessable housing
  • Multiple dwelling proposals no longer do eph maths, but must demonstrate consistency with height, site cover, setbacks, and the Residential Design Code. MDR tables show Multiple dwelling now benchmarks against both 9.2.7 Multiple Dwelling Code and 9.3.8 Residential Design Code, plus the domain development codes .

Bottom line

• Is it easier or harder?
  • For Dual occupancy, 2025 is generally easier where you meet lot size thresholds in LDR or 500 m² in LMR, because it is accepted development subject to requirements with a clear code to follow .
  • For Dwelling houses, 2025 is similar in ease, but clearer. The Dwelling House Code sets explicit site cover and QDC alternatives, and terrace houses have a clean path on sub-300 m² lots .
  • For Multiple dwellings, 2025 trades numeric density caps for form-based controls and adds the Residential Design Code. Yield hinges on height, site cover and design performance rather than eph. This can be simpler to demonstrate where the context supports height, but it adds design evidence and may constrain yield in interface areas via height and site cover AOs .

Got a site in Logan City Council that you want us to take a look at? Get in touch.