Short-term accommodation

Short-term rental of a house, unit or an investment property can be a valuable source of income.

We value the support that a range of accommodation options give our region. We want to ensure it is achieved responsibly.

If you rent all or part of your home or other accommodation premises for short-term accommodation, it is either a home-based business or short-term accommodation. The rules vary between the two.

Home-based business

A home-based business is when you live at the premises while renting part of it out for short-term accommodation. For example, bed and breakfasts or farm stays.

The function and scale of the business must align with the dwelling's primary use as a private permanent residence: 

  • The maximum number of rooms for bed and breakfast is three in the Rural Zone.
  • The maximum number of rooms for bed and breakfast or accommodation units in a farm stay is six.
  • The maximum number of overnight guests is six, other than in the Rural Zone where there is no limit.
  • You must not serve meals for gain, other than to paying overnight guests.
  • You must provide one additional on-site car parking space for each room occupied by paying guests.

Short-term rental of a secondary dwelling, such as a granny flat, is considered short-term accommodation rather than a home-based business.

There may be other considerations. Refer to the Home Based Business Use Code in Part 9.3.4 of the Toowoomba Planning Scheme.

Short-term accommodation

If you do not live at the premises and rent all or part of it out for less than three consecutive months, it's short-term accommodation.

It may contain a manager's residence, office or recreation facilities for the exclusive use of guests.

Development approval

Short-term accommodation will require development approval and infrastructure charges may apply.

Home-based businesses may require development approval.

A home-based business is considered an 'accepted development subject to requirements' if it is in one of the following zones:

  • Low Density Residential Zone
  • Low to Medium Density Residential Zone
  • Township Zone
  • Rural Residential Zone
  • Rural Zone.

Home-based businesses in these zones do not need a development approval if they meet the requirements of the category.

In all other zones, home-based businesses are a code-assessable development and will need development approval.

Short-term accommodation is generally an impact-assessable development in residential zones. In the Low to Medium Density Residential Zone or township zones, it's code assessable.

Read more about how to Prepare and lodge an application.

Other approvals, regulations and licences

Your business may also need:

  • a food business licence from us if you're preparing food
  • signage approvals from us
  • body corporate approvals.

Get advice

We recommend getting early advice on any plans for setting up holiday or short-term accommodation. This will ensure you have thought of all the issues and implications. You can engage a consultant town planner or other suitably qualified professional.

A private certifier must approve any building work, such as extensions. This is separate to our development approval.

For more information, contact a Technical Advice Officer.

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