Exemptions
Under s46 of the Planning Act 2016, Council may provide, in limited circumstances, an exemption from a development application.
Exemption certificates are only issued under special circumstances as outlined in the legislation. If obtained, an exemption certificate removes the need for a development approval to be obtained for otherwise assessable development.
The certificates are not intended for large-scale or complex developments, or to rectify development that was undertaken without a permit. The applicant is obliged to comply with all other relevant requirements, eg obtain building and plumbing approvals.
An application to Council is required ($500 fee applies for this assessment).
A refusal from Council to issue an exemption certificate does not mean the proposed development is not supported in general. It means that your request has not met the relevant requirements of the applicable Act. In such cases, the proposal must be lodged as an application for assessable development under the planning scheme.
View the fact sheet on exemption certificates ( PDF, 0.16 MB ) for more information.
To lodge an exemption:
- Submit an Application for Exemption Certificate form ( PDF, 0.07 MB )
- Submit plans of sufficient detail, scale and quality to support the application
The preferred lodgement method is via Council's Development Applications Online portal.
Online (preferred) | |
In person | Over the counter at Council's main Customer Service Centre This office is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm weekdays (excluding public holidays) |
Cairns Regional Council | |
If you experience any problems lodging your application through the Development Applications Online portal, you may email your application to planningadmin@cairns.qld.gov.au. |
Last Updated: 5 October 2021
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