Multiple dwelling
Multiple dwelling means different things in WA and QLD. WA: stacked dwellings, R-Codes Volume 2. QLD: 3 or more dwellings including townhouses and apartments.
Ask Chalkline about this →Multiple dwelling is a planning use class that means different things in WA and QLD. The same words cover different arrangements in each state.
WA: vertical stacking under R-Codes Volume 2
In WA, a multiple dwelling is a dwelling where the majority of its plot ratio area sits vertically above the plot ratio area of another dwelling on the same lot (verified 2026-06-11 per SPP 7.3 R-Codes, DPLH). This is the dividing line with a grouped dwelling: grouped means side-by-side with none above another; multiple means stacked.
At R80 and above, assessment uses R-Codes Volume 2, which adds apartment-specific controls: internal dimensions, communal open space, acoustic provisions, and universal design. At R60 or below, Volume 1 applies. At R80+ with stacking confirmed, a development application is required (verified 2026-06-11, DPLH).
QLD: 3 or more dwellings on one lot
In QLD, a multiple dwelling is a residential use involving 3 or more dwellings, whether attached or detached (verified 2026-06-11 per Planning Regulation 2017 Schedule 3). It covers apartments, units, townhouses, flats, and row housing. Two dwellings is a dual occupancy. Stacking is not part of the definition: a row of three townhouses and a three-storey apartment block are both multiple dwellings. Assessment is code or impact assessable depending on zone and height (verified 2026-06-11, Brisbane City Council).
The definitional gap
| State | Criterion | Minimum count | Includes flat-plan rows? |
|---|---|---|---|
| WA | Vertical stacking (majority of PRA above another) | 2 (if stacked) | No |
| QLD | 3 or more dwellings, any arrangement | 3 | Yes |
Also known as: apartment building, unit development, stacked apartments (WA context).
Category: Planning / Dwelling Classification.
Related
See also
References
- SPP 7.3 R-Codes Volume 2 (DPLH, WA) (verified 2026-06-11)
- Planning Regulation 2017 Schedule 3 (Queensland legislation) (verified 2026-06-11)
- Multiple dwellings, Brisbane City Council (verified 2026-06-11)
Last updated: 2026-06-11. Verified: 2026-06-11. Quarterly review for currency.