Plan of subdivision (Plan Signing)
Before a new lot*can be sold, it must be created on a survey plan and its title registered in Queensland Titles. There are three types of plans of subdivision (survey plans).
*a lot includes structural elements in buildings as in a Community Titles Scheme.
Types of plans of subdivision
Standard format – a standard format plan defines land parcels. The plan must include dimensions and areas. A standard format survey plan may also contain common property for a community titles scheme.
Building format – a building format plan creates lots bounded by structural elements (i.e. buildings). Lots generally are defined by floors, walls and ceilings and contain common property for a community titles scheme.
Volumetric format – a volumetric format plan creates lots that are defined by three-dimensional coordinate geometry and are fully defined by bounding surfaces (for example a cube). The lots may be above, below, or partly above and partly below ground level.
The process
Prior to Plan Signing
- Obtain planning approval for relevant development application
- Undertake and complete the development in accordance with the conditions of approval
- Pay all applicable infrastructure charges
Plan Signing component
- Engage a surveyor to prepare a plan of subdivision
- Submit a plan of subdivision application to Council for approval
- Submit the approved plan of subdivision to the Queensland Government Titles Office
Preparing and lodging a well-made application
- For Council to commence assessment of your application, it must be a well-made application.
- The application and all associated material must be lodged online only via Application for Plan of Subdivision or Document Signing approval form
- An invoice for the Plan of Subdivision application fee will only be issued once Council has confirmed a well-made application.
- The statutory period for Council's assessment of the application will commence when the application fee is paid.
See Council's register of fees for fees associated with Plan of Subdivision approval requests.
What makes a well-made application?
A summary of all required documents and relevant approvals in making a well-made application:
Mandatory requirements
- Application for Plan of Subdivision Approval and on-line lodgement form.
- Plan of Subdivision Approval Checklist – fully completed.
- Survey Plan – full copy and scanned at 300 dpi and contains Council’s reference on ‘Sheet 2’.
- Form 18A Registered Owner’s Consent to Survey Plan – signed and scanned at 200 dpi.
- True Copy Certification Letter that has been signed by the surveyor or surveying company.
- Condition compliance statement detailing how each condition has been met and evidence in the form of photos where possible.
- Community Management Statement (if applicable) signed and dated and includes the Plan of Exclusive Use Areas and Services Location Diagram clearly showing all services.
Additional requirements if applicable
- Titles Registry documents relating to the transfer of land, creation of easements, surrender of easements, creation of covenants – all in the correct format. Must be submitted in hard copy and signed prior to lodging with Council.
- Surveyor’s Certificate – if conditioned in the Operational Works approval.
- Uncompleted Works Bond and / or Maintenance Bonds (including copy of the bond approval letters) and Bank Guarantees must be in accordance with PSP2 Infrastructure Works, 7.0 Bonding.
- On Maintenance / Compliance inspections scheduled.
- Water and wastewater new connection details.
- Form 4 Notifiable Work for any services to be capped.
- Certificate for Electricity Supply – containing the correct existing and new property details.
- Telecommunications provisioning confirmation letter.
- Infrastructure Charges Invoice already requested and infrastructure charges paid.
- Payment of all rates.
- Payment of street tree planting contributions.
Mandatory requirements for early plan signing requests.
- Uncompleted Works Bond Agreement signed – required for Bond amounts of $250,000 or above.
- All Bonds in the approved amounts provided to Council.
- Written undertaking from the supervising RPEQ, confirming that all works and services will be completed and operational within three (3) months, has been lodged with Council.
- Early plan signing inspection scheduled – lodge inspection request via DAConstruction@redland.qld.gov.au.
Assessment of your application
Plans of subdivision applications are assessed in accordance with Schedule 18 of the Planning Regulation 2017.
- Once the application is accepted by Council and the fees are paid the assessment period commences.
- If the application complies an approval will be issued within 20 business days however, if the application does not comply a non compliance notice will be issued (when compliance is achieved Council will have a further 20 business days to approve and sign the plan of survey).
- Council will provide consent to the survey plan by way of electronically signing a Form 18B Planning Body Approval of Survey Plan and Plan of Subdivision Approval letter.
Important note
Council does not issue paper copies of the signed Form 18B Planning Body Approval of Survey Plan. If a hard copy of the Form 18B is required, then it is the responsibility of the applicant to print the document. When printed, this will become the original hard copy version of the Form 18B.
If the survey plan creates a Community Titles Scheme, a signed and dated electronic copy of the First Community Management Statement (CMS) scanned at 200 dpi, must be lodged with the Application for Plan of Subdivision Approval. Council is required to note the CMS by way of electronically signing a Form 18C Planning Body Community Management Statement Notation at the time of approving and signing the plan of survey. Council does not require you to provide a Form 18C with your application.
More information
Read more on subdividing land.
Visit the Queensland Government Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy.