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Tiny homes, Granny flats, Caravans, Manufactured homes
Planning and building requirements for Tiny homes, Granny flats, Caravans and Manufactured homes.
What is it? Do I need approval?
The following information has been compiled to explain the planning and building requirements for tiny homes, granny flats, caravans and manufactured homes.
Also see Frequently Asked Questions below.
Tiny homes
A tiny home is not defined under any NSW legislation.
A tiny home could be any of the following defined land uses:
- dwelling house
- secondary dwelling (granny flat)
- manufactured home
- caravan.
Use the online form below to work out what planning controls and building standards apply.
Online form
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Council is generally supportive of these land uses and recently amended the planning controls to permit granny flats (secondary dwellings) in every zone where you can build a dwelling house (except for RU4 Primary Production Small Lots). Provided that the development complies with all relevant planning, building, public health and safety requirements, it is likely to obtain development consent.
Yes, provided you can comply with the requirements.
Caravan: NSW legislation provides for use of one caravan in association with a dwelling house. For details, see requirements for caravans.
Secondary dwelling (granny flat): In Bega Valley Shire, except for zone RU4 Primary Production Small Lots, if you have a dwelling house on your land, you can lodge a development application with Council for a secondary dwelling (granny flat). See requirements for secondary dwellings (granny flats).
Look up your land use zone here: NSW Planning Portal Spatial Viewer
Yes. As part of your development application with Council, you may request to live in your shed or caravan on your land while you are actively building your home. Council will require that before moving into the shed or caravan you obtain a Construction Certificate for your home issued by a principal certifier. The shed will need to be made “habitable” in accordance with the National Construction Code, a BASIX certificate will be required, and you will need to have access to suitable water and sewer or onsite sewage management system. The shed or caravan will have to comply with Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019 in relation to access, asset protection zones, water supply and construction standards.
No. State-wide legislation that provides for dwellings to be used for short-term rental accommodation (STRA) does not apply to caravans. However, there are some exemptions provided for caravans used for Farm Stay Accommodation on landholdings over 15ha in certain rural zones in association with a commercial farm.
You can apply to Council to install a caravan or manufactured home for use as a dwelling house anywhere that a dwelling is permitted with development consent.
In Bega Valley Shire, dwelling houses are permitted with development consent on most lots zoned R2 Low Density Residential, R3 Medium Density Residential, RU5 Village, MU1 Mixed Use, R5 Large Lot Residential, C4 Environmental Living and RU4 Primary Production Small Lots.
They may also be permitted on some land zoned E1 Local Centre, E2 Commercial Centre, RU1 Primary Production, RU2 Rural Landscape and C3 Environmental Management.
Look up your zone here: NSW Planning Portal Spatial Viewer
Secondary dwellings are permitted with development consent on most lots zoned R2 Low Density Residential, R3 Medium Density Residential, RU5 Village, MU1 Mixed Use, R5 Large Lot Residential and C4 Environmental Living.
They may also be permitted on some land zoned E1 Local Centre, E2 Commercial Centre, RU1 Primary Production, RU2 Rural Landscape and C3 Environmental Management.
Look up your zone here: NSW Planning Portal Spatial Viewer
Both attached and detached dual occupancies are permitted on most lots zoned R2 Low Density Residential, R3 Medium Density Residential, RU5 Village, MU1 Mixed Use, R5 Large Lot Residential and C4 Environmental Living.
Both attached and detached dual occupancies may also be permitted on some land zoned E1 Local Centre, E2 Commercial Centre, RU1 Primary Production and RU2 Rural Landscape.
Only attached dual occupancies are permitted in RU4 Primary Production Small Lots zone.
In zones RU1 Primary Production and RU2 Rural Landscape, each dwelling making up a dual occupancy must be located within 250m of each other and use the same driveway access point.
Look up your zone here: NSW Planning Portal Spatial Viewer
Contact Council’s Development Support Services on 02 6499 2222.
Related information
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Contact Us
- 02 6499 2222
- council@begavalley.nsw.gov.au
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Zingel Place
PO Box 492
Bega NSW 2550 -
Monday to Friday 9.00AM to 4.30PM
Administration building Zingel Place Bega
Australia -
ABN: 26 987 935 332