Tiny home approvals · Perth & WA
Tiny home approvals in WA, sorted.
On wheels or on a slab, a tiny home in Western Australia needs the right approval. Since September 2024, councils can approve a tiny home on wheels for up to 24 months at a time. We work out which approval yours needs and apply for you.
- Fixed price up front
- On wheels or fixed
- Perth and regional WA
Which approval?
Do I need approval for my tiny home?
A tiny home on wheels is treated as a caravan in WA. Stays longer than a few nights on private land need local government approval, for up to 24 months at a time. A fixed tiny home is a building and needs a building permit.
- One tiny home on wheels per lot is the norm; more needs the Minister's approval.
- Decks and carports added to a tiny home may need their own approval.
- Fixed tiny homes behind a house follow the granny flat rules.
Check your tiny home
Answer a few quick questions. It takes about 20 seconds.
Two paths
On wheels or fixed: what's the difference?
| Tiny home on wheels | Fixed tiny home | |
|---|---|---|
| Treated as | A caravan | A building (house or granny flat) |
| Approval | Local government approval under the caravan and camping rules | Building permit, plus planning approval in some cases |
| How long | Up to 24 months at a time, renewable | Permanent |
| Building code | Doesn't apply to the tiny home itself | Applies in full, including energy efficiency |
| More than one on a lot | Needs the Minister's approval | Depends on zoning and planning rules |
How it works
From driveway to approved
Tell us about it
The tiny home, the land, who owns it, and how long you want to stay.
We prepare the application
Site plan, tiny home details, landowner consent and how water, power and waste are handled.
We lodge and follow up
We lodge with your council, answer their questions and send you the approval and its conditions.
What councils look for
Show them it's safe, serviced and sensible.
- Facilities. Drinking water, a toilet and shower, either in the tiny home or close by.
- Waste. How grey water and sewage are handled, especially off-sewer.
- Power and gas connections done by licensed trades.
- Fire safety, including bushfire-prone areas.
- Placement: setbacks, access and not blocking driveways.
Guides
Tiny home guides
Questions
Common questions
Can I live in a tiny home on wheels in WA?
Yes, with approval. Since 1 September 2024 your local government can approve a tiny home on wheels on private land for up to 24 months at a time, and the approval can be renewed. Councils set conditions to suit the site.
Does a tiny home on wheels need a building permit?
No. A tiny home on wheels is treated as a caravan, not a building, so the approval comes under the caravan and camping rules. Anything permanent you add, like a deck or a carport, may need its own approval.
Can I put a tiny home in my backyard in Perth?
Often, yes. On wheels, you need your council's approval for stays longer than a few nights. On a slab or footings, it is a granny flat and needs a building permit.
Do I need council approval to have a tiny home on my parents' land?
Yes, for anything longer than a short stay. The landowner gives consent, and the application goes to the local government.
Can I have more than one tiny home on a lot?
More than one caravan or tiny home on wheels on a private lot needs the Minister for Local Government's approval, on top of the council's involvement.
What do councils usually ask for?
A site plan, details of the tiny home, the landowner's consent, and how water, toilet and shower facilities, power and waste will be handled. Some councils also look at bushfire safety and setbacks.
Live small. Apply once.
On wheels or on footings, we work out which approval your tiny home needs and handle the application with your council.