Council & Approvals
A clear guide to council, state by state.
Tiny homes and modular living are growing quickly across Australia — but the rules aren't the same everywhere. Here's a calm, plain-language overview to help you find your footing.
The rules vary. The starting point doesn't.
Living in a tiny home or caravan is becoming far more common around the country. Yet regulation remains anything but uniform — each state, and often each local council, sets its own approach to placement, how long you can stay, and what approvals apply.
Our advice is always the same: speak with your local council and with our team before you commit to anything. A short conversation early on saves a great deal of uncertainty later.
Site Suitability Matters
The right modular solution still needs the right site conditions.
A modular solution is only suitable if the site can support delivery, access, installation and the intended use. Before final pricing or delivery, key site details may need to be reviewed.
delivery access width and driveway slope
crane or truck access and installation space
ground conditions and site preparation
services, utilities and connection requirements
local council controls and intended use
bushfire, flood, wind or coastal exposure where relevant
Site suitability guidance is preliminary and does not replace advice from builders, engineers, certifiers, planners, installers or council.
How Projects Are Reviewed
Use, site and product type shape the path.
How a modular project is treated can change by council, intended use and the specific product pathway. The right starting point is a practical review before decisions are made.
Intended use
A project used as a home, guest accommodation, office, studio or amenity building may be reviewed differently.
Product format
Trailer-based, relocatable, container and modular building formats can each raise different approval, transport and installation questions.
Local controls
Planning overlays, zoning, bushfire, flood, setbacks, services and access can all influence what is possible on a specific site.
Professional confirmation
Council, certifier, builder, installer and engineering advice should confirm requirements before purchase, delivery or installation.
State by State
A snapshot across Australia.
A brief, general overview by region. These are starting points, not rulings — your local council remains the source of truth.
NSW
New South Wales
In many cases, NSW allows a single caravan to be kept on private land without council approval under the relevant regulations. Connecting services such as sewer may still need sign-off, depending on your council.
NSW legislation reference ↗VIC
Victoria
Victoria makes room for movable units through its Dependent Person's Unit policy. Exactly how it's applied can differ from one council to the next, so local interpretation matters.
Victorian movable units guidance ↗WA
Western Australia
A number of WA councils — Esperance among them — are increasingly welcoming of tiny homes on wheels as a practical answer to housing. Support still varies council to council.
Shire of Esperance — tiny houses ↗AU
Other States & General
Elsewhere, a caravan on private land often won't need council approval — but limits on how long you can occupy it, and other local conditions, differ widely. It's always worth checking first.
This information is general in nature and provided as a helpful overview only. It is not legal, planning, building, engineering or financial advice. Requirements vary by state, territory, local council, product type and site conditions, and can change over time. Always confirm the rules for your specific site with the relevant authority and qualified professionals.
Approvals, Delivery & Installation
Council requirements, permits, engineering, delivery and installation conditions can vary by property, council area, intended use and product type. Information on this website is general in nature and should not be treated as building, legal, planning, engineering or financial advice. Confirm requirements with the relevant council, certifier, builder, installer, engineer or other qualified professional before making a purchase or project decision.
Enquiries
Unsure about your council requirements?
Speak with our team to understand how a ModuHaus home may apply to your local area, and the path that's likely to suit your site.