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

Merrimac, QLD 4226 Zoning, development potential & planning controls

Low density residential dominant. 3,790 lots resolved to zone, overlays and development potential.

Dominant zone
LDR
Low density residential
Median rent (house)
$1,004
per week
Population
7,255
ABS Census 2021
Total lots
3,790
8.9 km²

Zoning

What you can build in Merrimac

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

LDR
Dominant
LDR Low density residential 65.9%
MDR Medium density residential 26.1%
LD Limited development (constrained land) 5.7%
OS Open space 1.0%
SP Special purpose 0.4%
MU Mixed use 0.3%
NC Neighbourhood centre 0.3%
EC Emerging community 0.2%
CF Community facilities 0.1%
HDR High density residential 0.1%
SR Sport and recreation 0.0%
Avg max height
9.1 m

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

Theoretical dwellings
1,705

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

Use mix
Residential92%
Commercial0%
Environment1%

Location

Where Merrimac sits

Merrimac 4226 covers 8.9 km² within Gold Coast City.

Overlays © NSW Government
Council
Gold Coast City
Postcode
4226
Area
8.90 km²
Total lots
3,790

Drill into any lot in Merrimac

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 Merrimac

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
3,229

under the relevant council planning scheme

Subdivision potential
85

lots that may support subdivision

Total dev potential
3,229 lots

show at least one development signal

Own a property in Merrimac?

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 Merrimac

44% of lots are in mapped flood zones — material for any development; also: 1.5% of lots: koala priority habitat; 2.1% of lots: state environmental significance.

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

Flood-affected 44.1%

Flood hazard overlay mapping

Bushfire-prone 0.5%

Bushfire hazard overlay mapping

Koala priority habitat 1.5%

Core koala habitat (State Planning Regulatory Provisions)

State environmental significance 2.1%

Matters of State Environmental Significance (MSES) overlay

Market

Merrimac property market

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

Median rent (house)
$1,004 / wk
Houses

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

Projected dwellings 2036
8,602

Queensland Government Statistician's Office projection.

Demographics & lifestyle

Who lives in Merrimac

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

Population
7,255
Median age
38
Household income
$87.78K
Owner-occupied
66%
Renting
34%
Amenity score
100.0 /100

Walkable amenity within 1 km

Lifestyle score
74.0 /100

Cafés, parks, schools, transport

FAQs

Common questions about Merrimac

What's the zoning in Merrimac 4226?

Merrimac is dominated by the LDR (Low density residential) zone, which covers 2,304 of 3,790 lots (66%). The full mix is: LDR Low density residential (66%), MDR Medium density residential (26%), LD Limited development (constrained land) (6%), OS Open space (1%), SP Special purpose (0%), MU Mixed use (0%), NC Neighbourhood centre (0%), EC Emerging community (0%), CF Community facilities (0%), HDR High density residential (0%), SR Sport and recreation (0%).

What's the building height limit in Merrimac?

Across Merrimac, the average maximum building height is 9.1 m. Height is set per zone in the council planning scheme and can be varied by overlays and schedules. For the exact control on a specific address, generate a planning report.

Can I build a secondary dwelling in Merrimac?

Yes — 3,229 lots in Merrimac appear eligible for a secondary dwelling under the relevant council planning scheme, based on lot size, zoning, and frontage. Eligibility is lot-specific: get a planning report on your address to confirm.

What's the median rent in Merrimac?

Median weekly rent for a house in Merrimac is $1,004.

What planning constraints apply in Merrimac?

Across Merrimac, 44.1% flood-affected, 0.5% bushfire-prone, 1.5% koala priority habitat, 2.1% 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 Merrimac?

3,229 of 3,790 lots in Merrimac 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 Merrimac

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 Gold Coast Citycouncil planning scheme and lot-level cadastre (3,790 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 →