Tiny houses (prefabricated, modular, transportable dwellings)
What is a tiny house? When does a tiny house require approvals? What is required to get approvals? Can I have multiple tiny houses on my property? What are some common issues in obtaining approvals?
A tiny house may or may not have wheels but is fixed to the land when installed—for example, fixed to footings or connected to water and/or sewerage infrastructure.
Once fixed to the land, a tiny house is considered a building and is subject to the same planning, building, and plumbing laws that apply to any permanent building.
Tiny houses can be constructed off-site and transported to the property for installation.
What is not a tiny house?
A structure attached to wheels - either directly or positioned on a trailer - and not fixed to the land is considered moveable.
A tiny house on wheels is comparable to a large caravan or RV and may be eligible for registration as a vehicle under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989.
Use of a registered vehicle for moveable accommodation is regulated by Council’s local laws and is only permitted for temporary accommodation.
A caravan or moveable home cannot be permanently connected to services such as sewer onsite wastewater treatment system or water.
Tiny houses that are fixed to the land are assessable development under the:
- Planning Act 2016
- Building Act 1975
- Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018
If the tiny house is intended to be used as a dwelling house or secondary dwelling for permanent accommodation, the same planning, building, and plumbing requirements apply as for any conventional dwelling.
A tiny house fixed to the ground - for example, by attaching it to footings or connecting it to water and/or sewerage - will require:
- Building approvals (obtained from a private certifier licensed by the QBCC)
- Plumbing approvals (from Fraser Coast Regional Council) for any connection to water, sewerage or wastewater treatment systems
If the tiny house is moveable and capable of registration as a vehicle, building approvals are not required.
However, if it is used for temporary accommodation while on your property, it is subject to Fraser Coast Regional Council Subordinate Local Law No. 1 (Administration) 2019.
A local law approval is generally not required if the temporary home is:
- Occupied for less than 2 weeks in any 52‑week period on a vacant property; or
- Occupied for less than 4 weeks in any 52‑week period on a property with an existing dwelling; and
- No waste materials (effluent or greywater) are deposited or left on the property
For more information, see the “Temporary Homes or Caravans” section.
A tiny house proposed to be used as a dwelling house is generally accepted development subject to requirements under the Fraser Coast Planning Scheme 2014 and may not require planning approval.
Planning approval may still be required depending on:
- The zoning of the land
- Whether the proposal meets the relevant code requirements
- Whether the land is affected by planning scheme overlays (e.g. flood hazard)
If unsure, please contact the Fraser Coast Regional Council Planning Department to confirm whether your proposal is accepted development.
Building approvals
Before purchasing a tiny home, it is recommended that you speak to a private building certifier to ensure it complies with the Building Code of Australia.
The certifier will assess matters such as:
- Siting requirements
- Structural adequacy
- Weatherproofing
- Fire safety
- Health and amenity
- Accessibility
- Energy efficiency
For more information, see “Building approval requirements”.
Plumbing approvals
If the tiny house is to be installed on land not serviced by sewer, the existing onsite wastewater treatment system may require upgrading under a plumbing permit issued by Council.
For more information, see “approval and inspection requirements”
Yes - subject to requirements.
A tiny house placed in addition to an existing dwelling is considered a secondary dwelling under the Planning Regulation 2017. A secondary dwelling:
- Is used in conjunction with, but subordinate to, the main dwelling;
- May or may not be attached to the main dwelling;
- May be occupied by individuals related to, or associated with, the main household.
A secondary dwelling is generally accepted development if it complies with the dwelling code.
If the site is affected by an overlay or does not meet relevant codes, a planning application may be required.
If more than one tiny house is proposed, this may constitute dual occupancy or multiple dwellings, triggering a development application under the Planning Scheme.
Where a tiny house is connected to services on a non-sewered property, upgrading of the onsite wastewater treatment system may be required.
If unsure, please contact Council’s Planning Department - development@frasercoast.qld.gov.au
Many tiny houses available on the market do not meet Queensland building and plumbing requirements without significant additional work.
Common issues include:
- No Form 15 for structural design issued by a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland
- Structural components not rated to the correct wind classification
- No energy efficiency assessment or missing Form 43 issued by a QBCC‑licensed builder
- No Form 15 for glazing issued by a licensed glass/glazing contractor
- No Form 12 for smoke alarms or electrical installations issued by a licensed electrician
- Non‑compliance with AS 3959 (construction in bushfire prone areas)
- No Form 43 for waterproofing in wet areas
- Plumbing not installed by a licensed plumber, or not inspected and certified by council
- Plumbing fixtures/fittings not WaterMark‑certified
- Plumbing work installed without a permit issued by a Queensland local government
Pre‑installed plumbing
Any pre‑installed plumbing and drainage that has not been installed or inspected under a permit issued by a Queensland local government must be:
- Removed and reinstalled under a plumbing permit issued by Council; and
- Inspected by Council.
Council requires the following for any tiny home permanently connected to services:
- Form 7 (Notice of Responsible Person) for all plumbing work installed
- Inspection certificate from the local government where the work was originally installed and inspected
Before purchasing a tiny house, buyers should obtain written confirmation that any pre‑installed plumbing and drainage complies with Fraser Coast Regional Council requirements outlined in this document.
Failure to confirm compliance before purchase may result in the plumbing and drainage needing to be removed and reinstalled under a new Council permit.