A guide to moveable dwellings
Moveable dwellings offer an affordable and sustainable housing option for those seeking a simpler way of living. With a smaller carbon footprint than traditional homes and a wide range of styles available, they have become an increasingly popular choice.
A moveable dwelling includes many forms of accommodation recognised under legal definitions or industry adopted terms. This guide outlines the main types of moveable dwellings, including:
- Relocatable Homes (including Manufactured Homes)
- Tiny Homes
- Container Homes
- Caravans
- Campervans
Before deciding if a moveable dwelling is right for you, it’s important to understand the relevant local and state planning rules. This guide provides a general overview to help you determine whether Council approval is required for your chosen type of moveable dwelling.
Approval requirements for moveable dwellings
To understand what kind of approval you might need, it’s important to know how the moveable dwelling has been built and whether it’s intended to be installed on a site. Generally, a moveable dwelling will fall into one of the two following categories:
- Relocatable homes - a dwelling that has been manufactured off-site with the intention of being transported for installation on-site, or;
- Caravans - a dwelling that has been designed and built so that is capable of being registered as a trailer that can be used on a site but not installed.
Dwellings constructed on-site are a form of building and are therefore not moveable dwellings or relocatable homes. This type of construction can include industry products such as a flat pack homes, kit homes or modular homes.
If you’re planning to transport another type of building or structure (including any pre-used building) to a site that is not a relocatable home or a caravan, such as a site office, storage building or shipping container, see our Using other building or structures page.
Definitions
Building Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 | Includes part of a building, and also includes any structure or part of a structure (including any temporary structure or part of a temporary structure), but does not include a manufactured home, moveable dwelling or associated structure within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1993. |
Dwelling Standard Instrument—Principal Local Environmental Plan Wagga Wagga LEP 2010
| A room or suite of rooms occupied or used or so constructed or adapted as to be capable of being occupied or used as a separate domicile |
Dwelling house Standard Instrument—Principal Local Environmental Plan Wagga Wagga LEP 2010
| A building containing only one dwelling. |
Secondary dwelling Standard Instrument—Principal Local Environmental Plan Wagga Wagga LEP 2010
| A self-contained dwelling that— (a) is established in conjunction with another dwelling (the principal dwelling), and (b) is on the same lot of land as the principal dwelling, and (c) is located within, or is attached to, or is separate from, the principal dwelling. |
Dual occupancy Standard Instrument—Principal Local Environmental Plan Wagga Wagga LEP 2010
| 2 dwellings on one lot of land that are either detached or attached to each other, but does not include a secondary dwelling. |
Multi dwelling housing Standard Instrument—Principal Local Environmental Plan Wagga Wagga LEP 2010
| 3 or more dwellings (whether attached or detached) on one lot of land, each with access at ground level, but does not include a residential flat building. |
Moveable dwelling Local Government Act 1993
| (a) any tent, or any caravan or other van or other portable device (whether on wheels or not), used for human habitation, or (b) a manufactured home, or (c) any conveyance, structure or thing of a class or description prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition. |
Relocatable home Local Government (Manufactured Home Estates, Caravan Parks, Camping Grounds and Moveable Dwellings) Regulation 2021
| a manufactured home or other moveable dwelling, other than a tent, caravan, campervan or vehicle capable of being registered— (a) whether or not self-contained, and (b) that consists of at least 1 major section, including an associated structure forming part of the dwelling. |
Manufactured home Local Government Act 1993
| a self-contained dwelling (that is, a dwelling that includes at least one kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living area and that also includes toilet and laundry facilities), being a dwelling— (a) that comprises one or more major sections, and (b) that is not a motor vehicle, trailer or other registrable vehicle within the meaning of the Road Transport Act 2013, and includes any associated structures that form part of the dwelling. |
Caravan Local Government (Manufactured Home Estates, Caravan Parks, Camping Grounds and Moveable Dwellings) Regulation 2021
| a moveable dwelling designed to be capable of being registered as a trailer, but does not include a camper trailer. |
Campervan Local Government (Manufactured Home Estates, Caravan Parks, Camping Grounds and Moveable Dwellings) Regulation 2021
| a moveable dwelling, other than a caravan, designed to be capable of being registered as a motor vehicle, and includes a camper trailer. |
Camper trailer
| As defined above, camper trailers are a form of campervan. |
Transportable Home (this term is not used elsewhere in this guide) | This is a term commonly used by industry and consumers to refer to dwellings that are transported (partly or wholly pre-assembled) to a site then installed or constructed on site. Industry and consumers may use this term to describe manufactured homes, tiny homes, container homes, flat pack homes, kit homes, etc. |
Tiny Home
| This is a marketing term describing a very small, self-sufficient house. Depending on how the tiny home is built and if it is intended to be installed on a site, it may be:
|
Container homes | Generally, a container home is a dwelling (or structure intended to be lived in) made primarily from repurposed shipping containers, or purpose-built steel box‐modules. Depending on how the container home is built, it may be
|
Flat pack Kit homes Modular homes
| These are buildings that are made of prefabricated components in a factory which are delivered to the site in a pack or a kit. The components of the building are then assembled (built) on the site. They are usually constructed over a permanent foundation. As with other dwellings that are constructed on-site, upon completion, they cannot be moved. Note – These buildings differ to a “relocatable home” which has been constructed off-site prior to being delivered in 1 or more major sections to the site. The relocatable home is installed onto a footing that allows for it to be moved if required. |
Moveable dwelling FAQs
Yes, the use of a relocatable home may be possible to cater for a number of circumstances. It is recommended that you contact Council to determine the approval requirements and documentation you will require depending on the circumstance.
Yes, a relocatable home can be used to provide a detached addition (such as another bedroom or living area) to an existing dwelling. You will need to apply for the same approvals required for a new relocatable home as identified in on the Relocatable homes webpage.
Yes. It is recommended that you contact Council to determine the approval requirements and documentation you will require in this circumstance.
Relocatable homes that are installed as a secondary dwelling will not be subject to development contributions.
Relocatable homes that are installed as part of a dual occupancy or as part of a multi-dwelling housing may be required to pay development contributions depending on the circumstances of the development site. It is recommended that you contact Council to confirm if contributions will be required.
Yes, subject to obtaining all necessary approvals, it is possible that a relocatable dwelling could be used as a primary or main dwelling on a property. However, if this is your intention, it is recommended that you seek planning advice before proceeding.
This will depend on the circumstances of the site and whether you are seeking approval for a secondary dwelling, dual occupancy or multi-dwelling housing. It is recommended that you seek specific planning advice in relation to your circumstances before proceeding.
If the dwelling has been lawfully installed, it is possible for it to be used for holiday rental subject to complying with the exempt development provisions under Part 6 of State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021. Please contact Council if you require further information on these exemptions.
If the dwelling has been lawfully installed, it may be permanently leased.
The use of Caravans is subject to the compliance with the Regulation - see the Caravans webpage..
Yes, in areas serviced by sewer, you will be required to connect the dwelling to Council’s sewer system. Approval for these works will be required from Council. In un-serviced areas, you will be required to connect the dwelling to an approved on-site sewage management system. Approval for these works will be required from Council.
Council will not approve permanent connections for caravans to sewer.
Yes, in areas serviced by sewer, you will be required to connect the dwelling to the reticulated water service. Please contact Riverina Water for further information, including any approval requirements.
In un-serviced areas, you will be required to provide an alternate water supply (such as a rainwater tank) to adequately cater for the demands of the dwelling.
Page header photo from https://aussietinyhouses.com.au/