Caravans
Caravan means a moveable dwelling designed to be capable of being registered as a trailer, but does not include a camper trailer.
Exemptions
In some circumstances caravans (or campervans) can be placed on land not in a caravan park without approval from Council.
| Approval is not required for: | Other Council approvals: | Other considerations: |
|---|---|---|
| Installation of 1 or 2 caravans that are not used for more than 2 consecutive days and less than 60 days in a 12-month period | Where the land has a pre-existing connection to Council’s reticulated water and sewer infrastructure, connection to the site’s existing internal plumbing may be carried out by a licensed plumber without further Council approval. Other related approvals under Section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993 must be obtained. See Other approvals below. | It is recommended to consider environmental risks such as flooding, bushfire and heat when siting a caravan on your land. Most caravans have not been designed to protect people from extreme conditions. If located on bushfire prone land, occupants of the caravan should have a bushfire survival plan. |
| Installation of 1 caravan on land with a house where the caravan is used by members of the household | ||
| Installation of 1 caravan on a farm where the caravan is used by seasonal agricultural workers | ||
| Installation of 1 caravan for use by a person for up to 2 years who has been displaced because of a natural disaster | ||
| Installation of a caravan in a caravan park | Nil. | Contact caravan park. |
Other approvals
Other relevant approvals under Section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993 must be obtained, including approval to operate a greywater system, approval to operate or modify an onsite sewage management system (e.g., septic systems and compost toilets in unsewered areas), approval to connect to reticulated water and sewer infrastructure (if no existing connection exists) and approval to dispose of stormwater onsite (where roof stormwater is not able to be discharged to a stormwater easement or Council road).
If vegetation clearing or driveway construction are proposed, separate approvals for these works must also be obtained.
Use of a caravan for a dwelling house
Outside of the above table, use of a caravan outside a caravan park requires approval from Council.
A caravan may be used instead of a building for a dwelling house. This requires approval under two separate Acts:
- Approval to install a caravan is required under the Local Government Act 1993, and
- Development consent for use of land for a dwelling is required under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
An applicant may lodge a development application (DA) with Council for use of the land for a dwelling and installation of a caravan in the same application. Alternatively, an applicant may lodge a DA with Council for use of the land for a dwelling and lodge a separate application under Section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993 for installation of the caravan.
There is currently no fast-track complying development pathway available for caravans.
Note: Where the land is mapped as bushfire prone, Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019 applies and must be considered in relation to access, asset protection zones, water supply and construction standards.
Caravans and short-term rental accommodation
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 Farm Stay Accommodation on landholdings over 15ha in certain rural zones where in association with a commercial farm.
© Bega Valley Shire Council 2024
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- 02 6499 2222
- council@begavalley.nsw.gov.au
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Bega NSW 2550 -
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