Temporary homes are short-term, non-commercial living arrangements that include tents or a registered vehicle such as a caravan, car, campervan, motorhome, or a trailer on wheels, for example, a portable or tiny home on wheels.
Residents may use, or allow someone else to use, a temporary home on their property if it meets minimum requirements. These requirements are set out in the Temporary Homes Subordinate Local Law 2023.
This is a self-assessable process. Residents are responsible for checking that they meet the requirements themselves.
If all requirements are met, Council approval is not required, but you will still need to submit a notification to Council. If you cannot meet all the requirements, you will need to apply for Temporary home approval.
Council approval is not needed if the temporary home is unoccupied and only stored on private land.
Self-assessable minimum requirements
Requirements for vehicles
To stay in a vehicle on your property, the following basic requirements must be met:
- The vehicle has a valid registration for the whole stay.
- The occupation does not exceed 42 days in 12 months. This can be all at once or spread across shorter stays.
- The number of occupants does not exceed the design capacity of the temporary home.
- No money is paid to stay in the temporary home.
- Only one temporary home is occupied on the property at a time.
- A permanent home is located on the property and lived in full time.
- The property has only one main house, no secondary dwellings or granny flats.
- Setbacks are met:
- Residential property: a minimum of 1.5 metres.
- Rural or rural residential property: the greater of 4.5 metres or the distance required to ensure the temporary home is contained within the development footprint.
- From the permanent house: at least 1.8 metres, measured from the outermost point of the temporary home to the external wall or veranda posts of the permanent house.
- Occupants of the temporary home have access to sanitary and laundry facilities. This can be in the main house or temporary home.
- All waste, including grey water, sewage, portable toilet waste and rubbish, is safely stored, collected, and disposed of legally and hygienically.
- Potable water from the permanent home is available for all occupants. This must be a safe and reliable source, suitable for drinking.
- Consent is given by the property owner.
Requirements for tents
To stay in a tent on your property, the following basic requirements must be met:
- Occupation is no longer than 96 hours.
- Occupants are:
- a family or individual invited by the resident; or
- members of an approved organisation (scouts, guides, cadets, boys and girls brigade, sporting clubs, or schools).
Notification to Council
If your self-assessment shows that your temporary home meets the minimum requirements, Council approval is not needed, but you must notify Council. The owner or occupier of the permanent dwelling must do this within 7 days of starting occupancy. You can submit the notification online.
Submit a Notification to local government
When approval is needed
You must apply for Council approval to occupy a registered vehicle as a temporary home if it does not meet the minimum requirements.
Approval will only be granted if all of the following apply:
- A permanent home is being constructed or converted on the property, or building work will temporarily make the permanent home unfit for residential occupancy.
- The temporary home will be occupied for no more than six months.
- The temporary home will be located on the same allotment as the permanent dwelling.
- The allotment is 3,000 square metres or larger.
- The temporary home is a registered vehicle.
You must submit a completed application form with all supporting documents at least 30 business days before you intend to live in the temporary home.
Your application will be reviewed and assessed per the Temporary Homes Local Law 2023.
Applying for Council approval
Temporary homes that may need other approvals
Sheds
If you plan to live in a shed, you will need building approval from a private building certifier. The certifier will assess the proposed work and grant building approval if it meets all relevant legislation and standards.
It is the property owner’s responsibility to ensure all permits are in place before starting building work.
Permanent tiny or modular homes
To discuss approvals that may be needed for permanent tiny or modular homes, call Council on (07) 3205 0555. Permanent means it is mounted on a slab, stumps or other permanent structure, or on wheels and permanently fixed to the ground.