Ipswich Planning Scheme
Under Queensland planning legislation, each local government prepares and maintains its own planning scheme as the main ‘rule-book’ for determining what new developments should occur in their local government area and how.
The planning scheme achieves this by planning for and regulating what development should occur where and when, how development should occur and what assessment process is required – including if an assessment process is required at all.
If you would like to know more about land use planning and how it affects you, follow the link to Council’s Planning in Ipswich webpage.
Ipswich City Plan 2025
On 29 May 2025, Ipswich City Council resolved to adopt the Ipswich City Plan 2025. The Ipswich City Plan 2025 is the new planning scheme previously referred to as the draft Ipswich Plan 2024 during its preparation. It took effect on 1 July 2025, at which time replaced the 2006 Ipswich Planning Scheme.
You can access the current Ipswich City Plan 2025 here.
2006 Ipswich Planning Scheme (Superseded)
The 2006 Consolidated Ipswich Planning Scheme was the local planning instrument in effect until 30 June 2025, at which time it was replaced by the Ipswich City Plan 2025.
The superseded 2006 Ipswich Planning Scheme is still available to view via the links below, or on the Ground Floor, 1 Nicholas Street, Ipswich, as well as at all Council libraries and the mobile library service.
The superseded 2006 Ipswich Planning Scheme is also available for purchase. The fees payable with respect to Ipswich Planning Scheme are detailed in Council's schedule of Fees and Charges.
- Part 1 - Introduction
- Part 2 - Interpretation
- Part 3 - Desired Environmental Outcomes
- Part 4 - Urban Areas
- Table Of Contents (PDF, 172.4 KB)
- Divisions 1 to 3 Preliminary/General Provisions/Overall & Specific Outcomes (PDF, 3.3 MB)
- Division 4 Large Lot Residential Zone (PDF, 499.0 KB)
- Division 5 Residential Low Density Zone (PDF, 499.8 KB)
- Division 6 Residential Medium Density Zone (PDF, 408.4 KB)
- Division 7 Character Areas/Housing Zone (PDF, 598.9 KB)
- Division 8 Future Urban Zone (PDF, 7.0 MB)
- Division 9 Major Centres Zone (PDF, 3.2 MB)
- Division 10 Local Retail and Commercial Zone (PDF, 653.1 KB)
- Division 11 Local Business and Industry Zone (PDF, 1.1 MB)
- Division 12 Local Business and Industry Investigation Zone (PDF, 683.6 KB)
- Division 13 Local Business and Industry Buffer Zone (PDF, 487.9 KB)
- Division 14 Character Areas Mixed Use Zone (PDF, 696.0 KB)
- Division 15 Business Incubator Zone (PDF, 378.3 KB)
- Division 16 Bundamba Race Stables Area Zone (PDF, 448.2 KB)
- Division 17 Recreation Zone (PDF, 608.4 KB)
- Division 18 Conservation Zone (PDF, 449.3 KB)
- Division 19 Limited Development (Constrained) Zone (PDF, 449.4 KB)
- Division 20 Special Uses Zone (PDF, 339.5 KB)
- Division 21 Special Opportunity Zone (PDF, 1.7 MB)
- Part 5 - City Centre
- Part 6 - Regionally Significant Business Enterprise and Industry Areas
- Part 7 - Amberley Area
- Part 8 - Rosewood Area
- Part 9 - Township Areas
- Part 10 - Rural Areas
- Part 11 - Overlays
- Part 12 - Assessment Criteria for Development for a Stated Purpose or of a Stated Type
- Table Of Contents (PDF, 281.4 KB)
- Divisions 1 to 2 Preliminary/Home Based Activities Code (PDF, 189.8 KB)
- Division 3 Traditional Neighbourhood Design Code (PDF, 19.5 MB)
- Division 4 Vegetation Management Code (PDF, 436.3 KB)
- Division 5 Reconfiguring a Lot Code (PDF, 2.6 MB)
- Division 6 Residential Code (PDF, 1.8 MB)
- Division 7 Commercial & Industrial Code (PDF, 637.9 KB)
- Division 8 Intensive Animal Husbandry Code (PDF, 275.8 KB)
- Division 9 Parking Code (PDF, 1.6 MB)
- Division 10 Character Code (PDF, 935.2 KB)
- Division 11 Recreation & Entertainment Code (PDF, 264.1 KB)
- Division 12 Community Use Code (PDF, 263.8 KB)
- Division 13 Temporary Use Code (PDF, 247.3 KB)
- Division 14 Advertising Devices Code (PDF, 1.3 MB)
- Division 15 Earthworks Code (PDF, 370.0 KB)
- Division 16 Planning Scheme Building Matters Code (PDF, 98.0 KB)
- Part 13 - Local Government Infrastructure Plan
- Part 14 - Springfield Structure Plan
- Part 15 - Ripley Valley
- Table Of Contents (PDF, 97.7 KB)
- Division 1 to 3 Preliminary/General Provisions/Overall & Specific Outcomes (PDF, 9.5 MB)
- Division 4 Future Urban Zone (PDF, 1.8 MB)
- Division 5 Conservation (T1) Zone (PDF, 342.7 KB)
- Division 6 Rural Constrained (T2) Zone (PDF, 315.1 KB)
- Division 7 Sub-Urban (T3) Zone (PDF, 412.9 KB)
- Division 8 General Urban (T4) Zone (PDF, 376.0 KB)
- Division 9 Urban Centre (T5) Zone (PDF, 953.8 KB)
- Division 10 Urban Core (T6) Zone (PDF, 413.7 KB)
- Division 11 Special District Zone (PDF, 420.8 KB)
- Division 12 Recreation Zone (PDF, 329.8 KB)
- Division 13 Special Uses Zone (PDF, 225.4 KB)
- Schedules to the Planning Scheme
- Schedule 1 Dictionary (PDF, 1.2 MB)
- Schedule 2 Character Places (PDF, 4.3 MB)
- Schedule 3 Identified Places of Interest (PDF, 781.6 KB)
- Schedule 4 View Corridors (PDF, 2.3 MB)
- Schedule 5 Boundary Clearances (PDF, 67.0 KB)
- Schedule 6 Character Zones & Places (PDF, 113.1 KB)
- Schedule 7 Key Reference Maps (PDF, 4.3 MB)
- Schedule 8 Exempt Earthworks (PDF, 121.6 KB)
- Schedule 9 Exempt Advertising Devices (PDF, 188.9 KB)
- Schedule 10 Designated Sportsgrounds (PDF, 84.4 KB)
- Planning Scheme Policies
- Planning Scheme Policy 1 Consultation (PDF, 88.5 KB)
- Planning Scheme Policy 2 Information Local Government May Request (PDF, 1.6 MB)
- Planning Scheme Policy 3 General Works (PDF, 3.3 MB)
- Planning Scheme Policy 4 Nominations for Character Places (PDF, 70.4 KB)
- Planning Scheme Policy 5 Infrastructure (PDF, 13.3 MB)
- Implementation Guidelines
- Implementation Guideline List (PDF, 686.3 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 1 Development Standards for an Auxiliary Unit and for Dual Occupancies which are Used to Accommodate Relatives or Aged or Infirm Persons (PDF, 1.5 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 2 Applications for the Development of a Dwelling or other Residential Uses on Land Affected by the Development Constraints Overlays of the Planning Scheme (PDF, 833.1 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 3 Intentionally left blank (PDF, 653.4 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 4 Intentionally left blank (PDF, 653.3 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 5 Amberley Air Base & Aviation Precinct (PDF, 659.9 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 6 The Erection of a Replacement Dwelling Within a Designated Character Zone or Character Place (PDF, 643.7 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 7 Intentionally left blank (PDF, 653.2 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 8 Intentionally left blank (PDF, 653.4 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 9 Bellbird Park Planning Study (PDF, 5.0 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 10 Determining Abandonment of a Lawful Use (PDF, 808.6 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 11 New Rural Living Lots Created as a Result of "Transferable Dwelling Entitlements" (PDF, 811.2 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 12 Character Code, Probable Solutions - Overview Package (PDF, 721.0 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 13 Provision of Electricity, Driveways and Crossovers, Footpaths, Kerb and Channel (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 14 Sewer Extensions/Connections to Service New Developments (PDF, 604.1 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 15 Brassall Planning Study (PDF, 2.6 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 16 Heavy Vehicle Parking (PDF, 3.2 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 17 Springfield Design Manual (PDF, 8.2 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 18 Estate Signage (PDF, 968.6 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 19 Vegetation Retention (PDF, 3.2 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 20 Review of Car Parking Provisions for Transit Oriented Residential Development (PDF, 595.6 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 21 Appropriate Visual and Acoustic Treatment of Roadways (PDF, 853.0 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 22 Gated Communities (PDF, 660.0 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 23 Refuse Arrangements and Management for Multiple Residential Development (PDF, 1.5 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 24 Stormwater Management (PDF, 4.1 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 25 New Chum Enterprise Area Planning Study (PDF, 2.4 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 26 Adaptive Reuse of Character Places, Identified Places of Interest and Pre-1946 Buildings Located in Character Zones (PDF, 848.3 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 27 Guidance On Recreation Range And Opportunity Outcomes Arising From Embellishment Of Public Parks (PDF, 1.7 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 28 Dispersive Soil Management (PDF, 2.4 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 29 Yamanto Central Planning & Development Guidelines (PDF, 2.0 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 30 Intentionally left blank (PDF, 653.6 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 31 Public Art Provision by Major Developments (PDF, 1.1 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 32 Ebenezer Regional Industrial Area Implementation Guideline
- Implementation Guideline 32 (PDF, 2.7 MB)
- Implementation Guideline 32 Figure 1 (PDF, 1.5 MB)
- Implementation Guideline 32 Figure 2 (PDF, 2.4 MB)
- Implementation Guideline 32 Figure 3 (PDF, 2.1 MB)
- Implementation Guideline 32 Figure 4 (PDF, 2.4 MB)
- Implementation Guideline 32 Figure 5a (PDF, 2.3 MB)
- Implementation Guideline 32 Figure 5b (PDF, 2.1 MB)
- Implementation Guideline 32 Figure 6a (PDF, 2.2 MB)
- Implementation Guideline 32 Figure 6b (PDF, 2.2 MB)
- Implementation Guideline 32 Figure 7 (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- Implementation Guideline 32 Figure 8 (PDF, 2.0 MB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 33 Continued Use and Adaptive Reuse of Properties with Historic Lawful Use Rights (PDF, 642.2 KB)
- Implementation Guideline No. 34 Major Entry Community Signage (PDF, 761.7 KB)
- Implementation Gudieline No. 35 Riverview Urban Village Planning and Development Guidelines (PDF, 3.6 MB)
- User's Guides and Assessment Checklist
- User's Guide No. 1 Features of the Planning Scheme and its Relationship to State Legislation (PDF, 95.2 KB)
- User's Guide No. 2 Determining if an Application is Required (PDF, 199.6 KB)
- User's Guide No. 3 Making an Application (PDF, 69.2 KB)
- User's Guide No. 4 Assessing an Application (PDF, 96.1 KB)
- User's Guide No. 5 Acting on a Development Approval (PDF, 68.5 KB)
- User's Guide No. 6 Commenting on an Application (PDF, 94.3 KB)
- Assessment Checklist (PDF, 266.4 KB)
- Examples Using the Assessment Checklist (PDF, 261.8 KB)
- Fact Sheets
- Fact Sheets List (PDF, 41.4 KB)
- Fact Sheet No. 1 Mining and Key Resource Areas (PDF, 315.7 KB)
- Fact Sheet No. 2 Mining Subsidence (PDF, 118.1 KB)
- Fact Sheet No. 3 Rosewood Growth Management (PDF, 242.6 KB)
- Fact Sheet No. 4 Vegetation Management (PDF, 561.2 KB)
- Fact Sheet No. 5 Types of Development (PDF, 120.2 KB)
- Fact Sheet No. 6 Integrated Development Assessment System (IDAS) Process (PDF, 81.0 KB)
- Fact Sheet No. 7 Flood Regulations - Historical Overview (PDF, 259.5 KB)
- Fact Sheet No. 8 Residential Lot Sizes (PDF, 251.2 KB)
- Amendments List
The superseded 2006 Ipswich Planning Scheme mapping is also still available to be viewed in electronic format here.
Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP)
On 29 May 2025, Ipswich City Council resolved to adopt the Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP), replacing the previous 2018 Local Government Infrastructure Plan. The new LGIP took effect concurrently with the Ipswich City Plan 2025 on 1 July 2025, at which time replaced the 2018 LGIP.
You can access the LGIP, contained within Part 6 of the Ipswich City Plan 2025. Additional information on the LGIP is available at the Infrastructure Planning webpage.
Planning Scheme Attachments
Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution
View the Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution at the Infrastructure Planning webpage.
Further Information
To obtain further information in relation to the 2006 Ipswich Planning Scheme, please contact the Planning and Regulatory Services Department on telephone (07) 3810 6888.