What you need to know about council approval & tiny homes
If you’ve decided that you want to purchase a tiny home, it’s important to ensure that the land it will be placed on is suitable. Every state and council has different land rules, so you’ll need to make sure that you’re abiding by your local and state government’s laws when it comes to building and inhabiting your tiny home.
Can I live in my tiny home?
There are differences between tiny homes on wheels, and tiny homes that are installed on foundations. While our tiny homes are relocatable, they are transported by a crane & flat bed truck if needing to be moved, they cannot be placed on trailers and towed with a car. Our tiny homes are installed on foundations, while some tiny homes are built on wheels and can be moved by a car. These tiny homes are usually smaller due to the limited towing capacity.
It is a common misconception that because your tiny house is on wheels, that you do not need a permit to situate it on your property. In part this is true, however, you are not legally able to “live” in that tiny house, as they are recognised as a caravan, not a house. This is further complicated by the inability to obtain insurance for both loss & public liability, should the use of the tiny house not reflect council restrictions for its use.
As our cabins are able to obtain a Class 1 dwelling permit, council approvals, insurance & finance are legitimately available for its intended purpose. This also means that they can be placed as a principal place of residence on land instead of a typical home.
If you’re wanting to build a tiny house on your land, it’s best to check with your local council as you may need a planning and/or building permit before going ahead. Visit this page for your state to find a link for your respective council.
Can I build a tiny home on my land if I already have a dwelling on it?
Gaining approval to install additional accommodation on your property all comes down to your intended use for it.
“Granny Flat’s” or “DPU’s” (Dependable Persons Units) are quite simple to get council approval for and our cabins generally fit the bill across the board when it comes to council guidelines around these types of additional accommodations.
However, in Victoria, there are restrictions in reference to the occupants, meaning that the Granny Flat/DPU cannot be rented or otherwise used to generate profit and are for the exclusive use of family members. However, recently, these rules have changed. Read our blog ‘Rules and regulations for building a second dwelling in Victoria’ to learn more.
There are other options available to you if your tiny home is not being used for family members. Depending on the zoning of your property, it is possible to obtain planning & building approval for other uses like for a bed & breakfast, etc.
As part of our service, we can help ensure you have all the necessary building permits you need to put a tiny home on your land. If you want to know more about the process of purchasing and building a tiny home in Victoria, please get in touch.