Holiday & Workers Accommodation

Short-term accommodation, commonly referred to as Airbnb, farm stay, or workers accommodation, is defined as a premises used to provide short term accommodation for tourists or travellers for a temporary period of time (typically not exceeding three consecutive months), and may be self-contained.

The use may include a manager’s residence and office and the provision of recreation facilities for the exclusive use of visitors.

Examples include but not limited to:

• motel
• hotel
• backpackers
• cabins
• glamping tents
• serviced apartments
• farm stay
• bed & breakfast

If you are making an application for a New Short-term Accommodation, the following information must be submitted with the application for assessment:

• Site plan (drawn to scale); and
• Floor plan (drawn to scale); and
• The location of each exit; and 
• Particulars of the proposed use of each room and the maximum number of persons to be accommodated in each bedroom; and 
• Fire and Evacuation Plans; and
• Fire Safety Management Plan (required for budget accommodation only); and
• An electrical safety certificate of compliance; and
• Particulars of –
  • All lighting and ventilation; and
  • All sanitary facilities; and
  • All fire safety installations; and
  • Shared facilities including –
    • Number of toilets
    • Number of bathrooms and showers
    • Laundry facilities
    • Dining facilities
    • Cooking facilities; and
  • All water supply facilities; and
  • All on-site sewerage facilities; and

Some types of short-term rental accommodation may also meet the definition of a 'budget accommodation building' under the Building Act 1975.

If you will be operating a budget accommodation building, additional fire safety requirements may apply and should be submitted with your application to operate short-term rental accommodation.

A budget accommodation building provides accommodation for 6 or more people and all or some of the occupants share a bathroom.  Examples of budget accommodation could include:

• backpacker hostels
• workers accommodation
• bed and breakfasts
• farm stays
• other similar types of accommodation

Additional information about your responsibilities as a budget accommodation building owner can found in the following places:

• The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services website
• The Queensland Government Business Queensland website

 

For information about building code requirements, advice should be sought from a licensed building certifier.

A list of licensed certifiers can be found here.

A home based business is a dwelling used for a home based business activity that is subordinate to the residential use.

A bed and breakfast short-term accommodation is an example of a home based business and an Application for Permit to Operate the Short-term Accommodation is required.

You may also require a planning approval to operate this kind of business from your home.  To determine if planning approval is required to operate a Short-term Accommodation as a home based business, refer to the planning factsheet for Home Based Businesses. (PDF 292.3KB)

The permit is valid for one (1) year and is required to be renewed annually.

Other approvals and permits that may be required prior to a permit to operate a short-term accommodation can be issued may include:

• Development Permit for a Material Change of Use
• Development Permit for Building Work
• Development Permit for Plumbing and Drainage Work
• Food Business Licence

If you are purchasing or selling an existing licenced short-term accommodation business, applying for a health search inspection  (PDF 352.4KB) (a pre-sale inspection) is recommended to check the current level of compliance. It is not a mandatory requirement, however is helpful when considering purchasing a business.

A Development Compliance Officer will inspect the premises before issuing a report. The report will provide written information on the current condition of the premises and will outline areas of non-compliance in relation to the design, maintenance and cleanliness.

Please note:

•  If you are requesting this kind of search and are not the current permit holder, you will need to obtain a letter of consent from the current permit holder/operator.
• Even if the business has a current licence, if you are the new owner you will need to apply for a permit to operate in your own name before you can start operating.