Know Before You Build
Council Regulations
A guide to tiny house regulations across Australia — and what you need to know before placing your home.
Navigating the Regulations
The rules around tiny houses are evolving as the movement grows. Most councils currently treat tiny homes on wheels as caravans, with many having provisions allowing short-term stays without a permit. Longer-term arrangements may require a permit, council approval, or placement in a caravan park.
With 537 individual councils across Australia — each with their own rules — we always recommend contacting your local council directly for the most current information. The guide below provides a general overview of what applies in key areas where our customers are based.
Important Disclaimer
We are builders, not planning consultants. The information on this page is a general guide only and may not reflect the most current council rules. Always verify with your local council or a licensed planning consultant before proceeding.
Queensland
QLD Council Rules
Sunshine Coast Council
Residents may stay in a tiny house on wheels (treated as a caravan) for up to four weeks per calendar year without permits, provided no waste is deposited on the property.
Stays beyond this period require a Healthy Places — temporary accommodation application from Sunshine Coast Council.
Noosa Shire Council
Tiny houses on wheels are treated as non-fixed structures under local law. Specific time limits and conditions apply. Contact Noosa Shire Council directly for current permit requirements for your property.
Gympie Regional Council
A maximum of two weeks within any eight-week period is permitted without a permit for a tiny house on wheels. Longer stays require council approval.
Gold Coast City Council
Specific local law schedules apply. Contact Gold Coast City Council for current requirements around caravan and temporary dwelling permits for your property and zone.
Fraser Coast Regional Council
Specific local law schedules apply. Contact Fraser Coast Regional Council directly for current permit requirements for your area.
General Queensland Rules
Under the Sunshine Coast Council Subordinate Local Law No. 1 (Administration) 2016, no permit is required if the temporary home is occupied for less than 4 weeks in any 52-week period on a property with an existing dwelling, and no waste is deposited on the property during occupation.
Under the Planning Act 2016 and Building Act 1975, tiny houses on wheels used as a primary residence are considered "assessable development" requiring building and plumbing permits, similar to a conventional home.
New South Wales
NSW Rules
In New South Wales, it is generally permissible for a member of your household to reside in a tiny house on wheels for an extended period without needing planning permits (a Development Application), provided there is already an authorised primary residence on the property.
Rules and timeframes vary between councils. Contact your local NSW council for confirmation of what applies to your specific property and area.
Victoria
VIC Rules
Mornington Peninsula Council
Residents may occupy a tiny house on wheels for up to six months in any twelve-month period without a permit, provided sanitation is adequate and there is no impact on neighbours.
Surf Coast Shire
Planning permits are available for longer-term tiny house residence. Contact Surf Coast Shire Council directly for the current permit application process and requirements.
Our Recommendations
What We Suggest
Contact Your Council Directly
Rules change — what applied two years ago may not apply today. Call your local council and ask specifically about "living in a tiny house on wheels" or "living in a caravan" on your property type.
Consider a Private Building Certifier
A licensed building certifier can advise on what approvals apply to your specific proposal — building permits, plumbing permits, planning overlays — before you commit to a build.
Check Overlay Maps
If your land is subject to planning overlays (flood, bushfire, biodiversity, heritage), additional requirements may apply. Most councils have a publicly accessible mapping tool.
Consider a Planning Consultant
For complex situations — multiple dwellings, rural land, special zones — a planning consultant can prepare and lodge any required development applications on your behalf.
Questions? Talk to Us.
We're happy to share what we've seen from building for customers across Queensland and Australia. While we can't give formal planning advice, we can point you in the right direction.