Building by the bay
Homes close to Moreton Bay get salt spray and stronger wind. For those we specify coastal-grade materials and fixings, so the frame and screws do not rust out early. A few streets back from the water the standard range is fine.
Redland lots range from canal homes in Raby Bay to big blocks in Mount Cotton and Sheldon, so the rules that matter change a lot from one suburb to the next.
Redland City Plan in practice
- Patios are accepted development
- Under Redland City Plan 2018 a patio, carport or deck is accepted development in the planning scheme, so most jobs need only a building approval from a private certifier, unless an overlay applies.
- Boundary allowance
- A garage, carport or shed can sit closer to a side or rear boundary if everything in that setback is no more than 9 m long along the boundary, 4.5 m high (3.5 m average) and 1.5 m clear of a neighbour’s habitable window.
- Canal and revetment walls
- Where a lot backs onto a canal, revetment wall or artificial lake, buildings and structures stay 9 m back from it. This shapes most patios in Raby Bay and similar estates.
- Roofed area cap
- Everything with an impervious roof, patio included, can cover no more than 50% of the lot, and the lot keeps room for two parked cars.
- Corner lots
- Nothing over 2 m high can sit inside the 9 m × 9 m corner truncation, which affects carports on corner blocks.
Building over sewers
Redland City Council runs its own water and sewerage. A lightweight Colorbond patio, deck or carport on a slab with no footings can run up to 10 m over a sewer, as long as it keeps clear of manholes and connection points. Anything closer goes to council with an engineer’s certification.
Rules from the Redland City Plan 2018, read October 2026. Every lot is different: overlays, easements and the zone can change what applies, and your certifier confirms it. We check all of this before we quote.