Queensland Heritage Council
Queensland Heritage Council administers the QLD Heritage Act 1992 and Heritage Register; assesses development apps on listed places, issues exemption certificates.
Ask Chalkline about this →The Queensland Heritage Council (QHC) is the statutory body that administers the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 and maintains the Queensland Heritage Register, the state list of places, structures, and archaeological sites of cultural heritage significance to Queensland. The Council sits under the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI, the name as of 2026-05-16; departmental machinery-of-government renames are frequent).
Statutory functions:
| Function | Statutory basis | What it means for builders |
|---|---|---|
| Entering places on the Register | Heritage Act 1992 s.36 | Listed places become development-controlled |
| Removing places from the Register | Heritage Act 1992 s.45 | Rare; usually after significance reassessment |
| Approving development on registered places | Planning Act 2016 (referral agency role) | DA must be referred; QHC can refuse, condition, or approve |
| Issuing exemption certificates | Heritage Act 1992 s.71 | Pre-approval for routine works (gutter repair, like-for-like roofing replacement, painting) |
| Issuing general exemption certificates | Heritage Act 1992 s.71 | Apply to multiple places or classes of work |
| Stop-work directions | Heritage Act 1992 s.91 | Council inspectors can halt unauthorised works |
Why a builder cares:
If a project touches a place on the Queensland Heritage Register (state-listed, distinct from local-government heritage lists which are administered by the relevant council), the development application is automatically referred to QHC as a referral agency under the Planning Act 2016. QHC’s response is binding on the assessment manager (council). A QHC refusal effectively kills the DA.
Pathways for development on a state-listed place:
- Exemption certificate (for routine maintenance and like-for-like repair). Apply directly to QHC. Faster, no DA needed if granted.
- DA with QHC referral (for changes that go beyond exemption). Standard DA via council, council refers to QHC, QHC issues a “no agency response”, “agency response with conditions”, or “refusal”.
- Heritage impact statement (HIS) is virtually always required to accompany the DA. Prepared by a heritage consultant.
Who sits on the Council:
The Heritage Council is an appointed body of (typically) 9 members covering Aboriginal heritage, historian/curator, architectural conservation, archaeology, planning, building, real estate, and community-representative expertise. Members are appointed by the Governor in Council for renewable 3-year terms.
Practical timing:
- Exemption certificate: 4 to 8 weeks typically.
- DA referral response: statutory 30 business days from referral (but commonly delayed for additional information requests). Add 2-4 weeks for additional info turnaround.
- Heritage impact statement preparation: 2-6 weeks from a heritage consultant.
In other words, a state-heritage-listed project typically adds 3-6 months to a residential DA timeline beyond a standard council DA. Builder programs and contracts should absorb that.
Distinguishing from other heritage bodies:
| Body | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Queensland Heritage Council (this) | State-listed Qld places |
| Local council heritage officer | Locally-listed places under planning scheme overlay |
| Australian Heritage Council | National Heritage List + Commonwealth heritage |
| AHIMS / Native title bodies | Aboriginal cultural heritage (separate Act: ACH Act 2003) |
Also known as: QHC; Heritage Council (Qld).
Category: Regulators.
Related
See also
Last updated: 2026-05-16. Verified: 2026-05-16. Quarterly review for currency.