Every planning control identified for any lot | Every planning rule & overlay cross-referenced in one query | Approval likelihood scored for every control | Conflicts and overrides resolved automatically | Every answer cited to the source clause | Ask planning questions in plain English | Results in under 1 second | Every planning control identified for any lot | Every planning rule & overlay cross-referenced in one query | Approval likelihood scored for every control | Conflicts and overrides resolved automatically | Every answer cited to the source clause | Ask planning questions in plain English | Results in under 1 second |
Suburb planning guide · Updated 2026-06-08

Cardwell, QLD 4849 Zoning, development potential & planning controls

— dominant. 1,696 lots resolved to zone, overlays and development potential.

Dominant zone
Median rent (house)
$387
per week
Population
10,999
ABS Census 2021
Total lots
1,696
5538.4 km²

Zoning

What you can build in Cardwell

Cardwell is dominated by . Land use, building height, and permitted development are set per zone in the council planning scheme, made under the Queensland Planning Act 2016.

Dominant
Avg max height
m

Limit varies by lot — check your address for the exact figure.

Theoretical dwellings

Modelled dwelling capacity if every lot built to its zone controls.

Use mix

Location

Where Cardwell sits

Cardwell 4849 covers 5538.4 km² within Cassowary Coast Regional.

Overlays © NSW Government
Council
Cassowary Coast Regional
Postcode
4849
Area
5538.40 km²
Total lots
1,696

Drill into any lot in Cardwell

Open the interactive map — click any address to see its zone, height, FSR, overlays, and approval likelihood.

Open interactive map

Development potential

Where the upside is in Cardwell

We score every lot for development signal — under-built relative to the controls, eligible for a secondary dwelling, or sized for subdivision.

secondary dwelling eligible
0

under the relevant council planning scheme

Subdivision potential
0

lots that may support subdivision

Total dev potential
0 lots

show at least one development signal

Own a property in Cardwell?

Check your lot's exact development potential — height, FSR, granny flat, subdivision, dual-occ.

Run a report on your address

Constraints & risks

What could stop you in Cardwell

22% of lots are bushfire-prone — a bushfire assessment is likely required; also: 0.2% of lots: strategic cropping land; 21.8% of lots: state environmental significance.

Suburb-wide percentages — your specific lot may have all, some, or none of these.

Flood-affected None

Flood hazard overlay mapping

Bushfire-prone 21.9%

Bushfire hazard overlay mapping

Strategic cropping land 0.2%

State-significant agricultural land — development constraints apply

State environmental significance 21.8%

Matters of State Environmental Significance (MSES) overlay

Market

Cardwell property market

Rent and market context from state rental bond and demographic data.

Median rent (house)
$387 / wk
Houses

Sale-price history isn't yet loaded for Queensland suburbs — rent, demographics and planning data are shown where available.

Projected dwellings 2036
12,263

Queensland Government Statistician's Office projection.

Demographics & lifestyle

Who lives in Cardwell

ABS Census 2021 population data combined with lot-level amenity, healthcare, lifestyle, and crime indices.

Population
10,999
Median age
48
Household income
$61.88K
Owner-occupied
71%
Renting
29%
Amenity score
95.0 /100

Walkable amenity within 1 km

Lifestyle score
50.0 /100

Cafés, parks, schools, transport

FAQs

Common questions about Cardwell

What's the zoning in Cardwell 4849?

Cardwell is dominated by the — (—) zone, which covers — of 1,696 lots (—). The full mix is: .

Can I build a secondary dwelling in Cardwell?

Most lots in Cardwell aren't eligible for a secondary dwelling under the relevant council planning scheme — typically because the dominant zoning (—) doesn't permit it, or lot sizes fall below the minimum. Always verify on the specific address.

What's the median rent in Cardwell?

Median weekly rent for a house in Cardwell is $387.

What planning constraints apply in Cardwell?

Across Cardwell, 21.9% bushfire-prone, 0.2% strategic cropping land, 21.8% state environmental significance. These are suburb-wide percentages — every lot has its own combination. A planning report on a specific address shows exactly which controls apply.

What's the development potential of Cardwell?

0 of 1,696 lots in Cardwell show identifiable development potential — under-developed for the planning controls, eligible for a secondary dwelling, or capable of subdivision.

Get a planning report for any address in Cardwell

Suburb-wide stats are useful for context. For a buy-or-walk decision on a specific lot, you need every control, every constraint, and every clause cited to source.

Run a report — from A$29

14-section report · planning scheme controls cross-referenced · cited to source

Methodology & sources

Zoning, height, overlays and development potential computed from the Cassowary Coast Regionalcouncil planning scheme and lot-level cadastre (1,696 lots). Hazard overlays, demographics and rent drawn from Queensland council planning schemes, Development.i / council DA registers, Queensland Globe, and ABS Census 2021. Aggregated by ZoneDSS · last updated 2026-06-08.

Suburb-wide statistics — your specific lot may vary. Always run a planning report on the actual address before making a decision. How ZoneDSS works →