Current legislation

The Housing Act 2003 provides an accountable system for the delivery of housing and housing-related services by the Queensland and funded organisations in Queensland. The main objects of the Act are to improve the access of Queenslanders to safe, secure, appropriate and affordable housing, and to help build sustainable communities.

The Housing Act 2003 sets out the obligations for people that receive housing assistance and it applies the National Regulatory System for Community Housing to community housing providers that operate in Queensland.

The Housing Regulation 2015 is the supporting regulation for the Housing Act 2003. 

Find out about the National Regulatory System for Community Housing.

The Housing (Freeholding of Land) Act 1957 provides for the conversion of perpetual town leases to freehold. The Act establishes how the chief executive must declare the percentage of the unimproved value of the residential lease for either a voluntary conversion to freehold land or an automatic conversion to freehold land. For many years, the Queensland Government used perpetual town leases to assist low-income workers to afford homes.

The declared percentage for establishing the purchase price (for voluntary conversions) or conversion costs (for automatic conversions) must not be more than 100% and must be worked out according to the Housing (Freeholding of Land) Regulation 2017. The Regulation prescribes requirements for working out the declared percentage for the Act and calculating the equitable percentage.

The Inala Shopping Centre Freeholding Act 2006 brought the Inala Shopping Centre under the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997. It allowed the lessees, through a body corporate structure, to control expenditure within the Centre and make collective decisions about the management and future of the Centre.

The Act allowed existing holders of State Housing Perpetual Town Leases of the Inala Shopping Centre to acquire freehold titles in respect of their leased lands under a self-governing community titles scheme. This occurred after they had paid an amount equal to an agreed unimproved value for their lands. The government could then terminate its involvement in the centre’s management.

The Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003 aims to regulate, and promote fair trading practices in, the operation of residential parks, including by regulating the relationship between park owners and home owners. The Act aims to protect home owners from unfair business practices, and enable home owners and prospective home owners to make informed choices by being fully aware of their rights and responsibilities in their relationship with park owners.

The Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Regulation 2017 is the supporting regulation for the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003.

The Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002 regulates the conduct of residential services, such as boarding houses, to protect the health, safety and freedom of residents, encourage service providers to continually improve the way they conduct residential services and to support fair trading in the residential services industry.

The Residential Services (Accreditation) Regulation 2018 is the supporting regulation for the Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002.

The Retirement Villages Act 1999 establishes the regulatory framework for the operation of retirement village schemes in Queensland and regulates the relationship between retirement village scheme operators and residents. The Act aims to promote consumer protection and fair trading practices and encourage the continued growth and viability of the retirement village industry in Queensland.

The Retirement Villages Regulation 2018 is the supporting regulation for the Retirement Villages Act 1999.

The Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (RTRA Act) establishes the rules for residential tenancies and rooming accommodation in Queensland and sets out the rights and obligations of renters, rental property owners and property managers.

The RTRA Act:

• regulates the content, making, operation and termination of residential leases and processes for resolving disputes about these agreements, and
• establishes the Residential Tenancies Authority to provide a range of advisory, bond custodianship, dispute resolution, investigation and enforcement services to Queensland’s residential rental sector.

The Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Regulation 2009 is the supporting regulation for the RTRA Act. The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) is the statutory authority that administers Queensland’s rental laws.

The Help to Buy (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2024 refers particular matters relating to the Help to Buy scheme to the Parliament of the Commonwealth for the purposes of section 51(xxxvii) of the Commonwealth Constitution.

The objective of the Act is to give Housing Australia the function of entering, on behalf of the Commonwealth, into shared equity arrangements (known as Help to Buy arrangements) with buyers of residential property in participating States and in Territories.

It also gives Housing Australia the function of continuing to administer existing Help to Buy arrangements when a state stops being a participating state.

The Planning Act 2016 provides for an efficient, effective, transparent, integrated, coordinated and accountable system of land use planning and development assessment to facilitate the achievement of ecological sustainability.

The Act frames our planning system, which replaced the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA) on 3 July 2017.

The Planning Regulation 2017 (Qld) supports the principal legislation by outlining the mechanics for the operation of the Planning Act.

The Architects Act 2002 establishes the Board of Architects of Queensland and its functions, and regulates the performance of architectural services primarily through:

• the registration of individuals as architects under the Act
• provisions for monitoring and enforcing compliance with the Act.

The Architects Regulation 2019 is the supporting regulation.

The Building Act 1975 regulates the approval and assessment of building work and provides for matters including codes and standards for building work; inspections; building classification and the use of buildings; licensing and functions of building certifiers; fire safety for budget accommodation buildings; swimming pool safety standards and inspections; and provisions to support sustainable housing.

The Act adopts the Building Code of Australia (BCA) as a building assessment provision, which building work must comply with.

The Building Regulation 2021 contains building regulations related to the Queensland Building Act 1975.

The Queensland Development Code (QDC) adopts standards for matters not covered by the BCA. In some instances, it imposes standards over and above BCA requirements or replaces BCA requirements.

The building and construction industry must follow legal obligations and processes to protect contractor payments.

The Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 requires the building and construction industry to follow legal obligations and processes to ensure everyone gets paid for the work they do. This is achieved primarily through:

• establishment of trust accounts for eligible contracts
• a statutory right to receive progress payments for work performed under a contract
• subcontractors’ charges, to secure payment from a higher party in the contractual chain
• adjudication of payment disputes.

The Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Regulation 2018 is the supporting regulation.

The Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 is about plumbing and drainage, and the licensing of plumbers and drainers. The Act's main purpose is to regulate the carrying out of plumbing or drainage work in a way that reduces risks to public health and safety, and the environment.

The Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019 ensures plumbing and drainage work is compliant.

The Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA) (Volume 3 of the National Construction Code) contains technical requirements for the design and construction for plumbing and drainage systems in new and existing buildings of all classes. It also applies to sites where water services are constructed independent of buildings.

The Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code adopts standards for matters not covered by the PCA. In some instances, it imposes higher standards over and above PCA requirements or replaces PCA requirements.

The Professional Engineers Act 2002 establishes the Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland and its functions, and regulates the performance of professional engineering services primarily through:

• the registration of individuals as professional engineers under the Act
• provisions for monitoring and enforcing compliance with the Act.

The Professional Engineers Regulation 2019 is the supporting regulation.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 establishes the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) as a statutory body and the Queensland Building and Construction Board as the QBCC’s governing body.

The QBCC Act:

• regulates the building industry to ensure the maintenance of proper standards in the industry and achieve a reasonable balance between the interests of building contractors and consumers
• provides for matters including the licensing of builders, trade contractors and occupational trades, including minimum financial requirements for licensing; rectification of defective building work; non-conforming building products; compliance and enforcement powers and the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission Regulation 2018 is the main supporting regulation. It covers matters such as licence classes and requirements, including scopes of work and qualifications, owner-builder permits, demerit offences and fees for QBCC licences.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (Minimum Financial Requirements) Regulation 2018 outlines the minimum financial requirements for contractor licensees in Queensland.

The Night-Life Economy Commissioner Act 2024 establishes the office of night-life economy commissioner.

Its main objective is to allow the night-life economy commissioner to:

• work with night-life businesses, including businesses operating live music venues and businesses located in entertainment precincts, to create a vibrant and safe night-life environment
• support, promote and advocate for key aspects of the night-life economy, with an emphasis on partnerships that encourage the growth, sustainability and vibrancy of night-life businesses.