Queensland
State Level
The Queensland Government outwardly supports tiny homes on their planning website, however they warn that tiny homes that do not have building approvals by meeting the BCA standards are not considered suitable for permanent living. Their Tiny Home webpage goes on to outline when a Tiny Home may need planning permission and or building permits.
In summary, a tiny house on wheels will be considered a caravan and not require state planning permission if:
it is registerable as a caravan or trailer;
and is intended for temporary accommodation (e.g. similar to a caravan);
and not connected to services (e.g. town water and sewer).
However local laws may still apply.
If it is intended to be permanently occupied - as a primary or secondary dwelling or for short or long term renting - planning approval may be required under local government planning scheme but not under the state planning scheme. Building approval and plumbing and drainage approval may also be required in these cases.
Local Government Level
Brisbane City Council allows caravans to be occupied for up to 365 days per year. In the late 2010s, there was a successful appeal against an enforcement notice that has set precedent for tiny houses to be treated as caravans not requiring a building permit as a Class 1A habitable structure. This case gives Brisbane tiny house residents a bit more certainty that they may be able to live permanently in their tiny homes so long as their tiny house is “not fixed to the site”.
Queensland
State Level
The Queensland Government outwardly supports tiny homes on their planning website, however they warn that tiny homes that do not have building approvals by meeting the BCA standards are not considered suitable for permanent living. Their Tiny Home webpage goes on to outline when a Tiny Home may need planning permission and or building permits.
In summary, a tiny house on wheels will be considered a caravan and not require state planning permission if:
it is registerable as a caravan or trailer;
and is intended for temporary accommodation (e.g. similar to a caravan);
and not connected to services (e.g. town water and sewer).
However local laws may still apply.
If it is intended to be permanently occupied - as a primary or secondary dwelling or for short or long term renting - planning approval may be required under local government planning scheme but not under the state planning scheme. Building approval and plumbing and drainage approval may also be required in these cases.
Local Government Level
Brisbane City Council allows caravans to be occupied for up to 365 days per year. In the late 2010s, there was a successful appeal against an enforcement notice that has set precedent for tiny houses to be treated as caravans not requiring a building permit as a Class 1A habitable structure. This case gives Brisbane tiny house residents a bit more certainty that they may be able to live permanently in their tiny homes so long as their tiny house is “not fixed to the site”.
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