Brisbane City Council plans to introduce a ban on certain owners in low density suburbs from leasing their property on short-stay platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz. A three-strike rule will apply to permits issued for short-term accommodation.

Owners in low or low-medium zoned areas will need to get an appropriate development approval or cease operating as short-stay accommodation. Council is expected to write to almost 500 home owners operating as short-stay providers to inform them they do not have or are unlikely to receive the relevant planning approvals.

Failure to obtain a permit could lead to fines of more than $140,000. As part of the permit changes, operators will need to nominate a 24-hour contact to respond to complaints within an hour and report back to the council within a day. Operators who get three warnings from the council over a three-year period will have their permit cancelled.

It is not clear if the rates surcharge applicable to short-stay accommodation will continue.

Council will also continue to advocate changes to the State’s body corporate laws to give apartment owners more power to limit short-term rentals in their buildings.

Public consultation will continue until 16 February 2026.

Brisbane City Council announces crackdown on short-stay accommodation in residential areas

Proposed Short Stay Accommodation Local Law 2025

December 2025

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