Fixed means it's a building
A tiny home on footings, piers or a slab is a building. That means it needs a building permit before it is placed or built, and it has to meet the National Construction Code like any home: structure, fire safety, ceiling heights, light and ventilation, and energy efficiency.
Behind an existing house: the granny flat route
A fixed tiny home on the same lot as a main house is an ancillary dwelling, or granny flat. Since April 2024 it doesn't need planning approval if it is 70 m² or less, on a residential lot, and meets the R-Codes' standard rules such as setbacks. Our sister site Granny Flat Permit covers this in detail.
As the only home on the lot
A fixed tiny home as the main home on a lot is assessed as a house. It needs a building permit, and planning approval where your zoning or the R-Codes require it. Rural lots often need extra approvals for water and wastewater.
Modular and transportable tiny homes
Factory-built tiny homes delivered by truck still need a building permit for your lot. The application covers the footings or tie-downs, the connections to services and the home itself, using the manufacturer's documents.
What we prepare
- Site plan with setbacks and open space
- Floor plans and elevations, from your builder or manufacturer
- Footing and tie-down engineering
- Energy efficiency assessment, and a BAL assessment if bushfire-prone
- Forms, owner consent and lodgement