It’s high time we updated you all on current legislation- so we’re starting with my home state- Victoria.
The short answer- absolutely YES.
Whether council “allows” this may be a different story though.
*For context: anytime I refer to “Tiny Houses” on this page, I am referring to Tiny Houses on wheels/trailer, which for legislative purposes are currently referred to as caravans.
Unlike NSW and WA, Victoria does not have statewide legislation pertaining to long-term occupation of Tiny Houses. What that means is that each of the 79 Victorian councils makes their own rules.
The majority of these have policies around “camping” that limit the number of nights per year an occupant is permitted to stay in a “caravan”, ranging from anywhere between 48 hours to 180 per calendar year.
These are the councils that currently permit full-time Tiny House living in Victoria, where our experience supports that these councils are on board:
Central Goldfields: allowed on a property with an existing dwelling where it does not adversely affect neighbours.
Macedon Ranges: allowed on a property with an existing dwelling where it does not adversely affect neighbours.
Maroondah: allowed unless it adversely affects neighbours
Mount Alexander- Local Law 13 allows you to "camp, or occupy a caravan or tiny house on wheels, on property where there is an existing dwelling, for an indefinite period of time with no permit required."
Surf Coast: Pilot Program is in place until December 2026 where permission will be granted for full-time occupancy when certain requirements around zoning and grey water disposal are met.
Whitehorse: you may live in one caravan in a "manner that does not cause a nuisance"
In addition to this, there are currently a number of councils who do not have any policy applicable to full-time living in a Tiny House. Where something is not explicitly banned, it stands to reason that it is permissible.
These councils are:
Brimbank, Horsham, Melbourne City, Merri-Bek, Moira (with existing dwelling), Murrindindi (with existing dwelling), Port Phillip, West Wimmera.
ALL THIS BEING SAID: THOUSANDS of us are living full-time in our Tiny Houses in parts of Victoria where it’s not “allowed”- myself included.
Housing is a fundamental human right, and with over 80% of traditional housing out of reach of median-income households, many of us simply don’t have the luxury of waiting until “the rules” change.
Fortunately, after the shitshow that was Victoria in 2020, the majority of Victorians have had a gut full of being told by bureaucrats what they can and can’t do on their own land.
As a result, we’re now finding that very few are concerned with asking for permission.
We have placed HUNDREDS of tenants on properties within Victoria without issue, and we will continue to do so while the need not only remains, but is growing every day.
SO. If you're looking to go Tiny anywhere in Victoria, we can definitely help! Just choose a membership option HERE to start looking at options.
And if you're someone who has a large, private backyard, hobby farm or working farm anywhere in Victoria that’s not doing anything, we’re seeing record numbers of would-be Tiny House residents searching for land here.
You can connect with them by applying to host with us HERE.
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