Caravan parks and camping grounds

When is approval needed?

Any alteration, addition or installation of a relocatable home or associated structure on flood-liable land, or that which is greater than one storey (Section 68 local government activity), requires the prior approval of Council.

To find out if your park is flood-liable, please speak to your park management or contact Council.

• Section 68 application process: installation of a manufactured home, moveable dwelling or associated structure in a caravan park

When is approval not needed?

Council approval is not needed for works such as:

• paving and driveway surfacing which does not significantly alter the existing ground level
• maintenance, repair and renovation work - limited to painting and replacing deteriorated furnishings, floor sheeting, wall cladding or roof sheeting.

Before doing these works, you should first speak to your park management, who should advise whether the work proposed is in accordance with the Regulation, and whether an Application to Install needs to be lodged with Council.

Where prior approval is not needed, all works must comply with the:

• Local Government Act 1993
• Local Government (Manufactured Home Estates, Caravan Parks, Camping Grounds and Moveable Dwellings) Regulation 2021.

What next?

For all installations in a caravan park or camping ground, you are required to complete a Notice of Completion of Installation and send it to Council within seven days after the works are completed:

• Notice of Completion of Installation - Caravan Park (2.3 MB)

You can email your application and supporting documents to Council's Development Help Desk staff at:

• E: Council's Development Help Desk.

For information about what you must include with your application, refer to Council's checklist and fact sheet attached to the application:

• Section 68 Application for Installation of a Manufactured Home, Moveable Dwelling or Associated Structure in a Caravan Park (2.3 MB).

You can lodge your application and supporting documents via the NSW Planning Portal:

• Application process for the installation of a manufactured home, moveable dwelling or associated structure in a caravan park

A camping ground/caravan park operated for up to six weeks in connection with a recreational, sporting or cultural event is not subject to the same operating requirements the Regulation sets for permanent grounds and parks. However, development consent and an approval to operate are still required for the temporary ground or park.

• Refer to our page about planning events for information about the approval process.

The Regulation does not generally allow a deck, verandah or awning to be modified in order to be used as a habitable room, unless it can be shown that the conversion meets the definition of an annexe. The Regulation defines an annexe as being:

• an attachment to a relocatable home or caravan
  and
• is used as an extension of the habitable area of the relocatable home or caravan
  and
• is capable of being erected or removed within 24 hours.

No more than two-thirds of the dwelling site should be occupied by a relocatable home and other roofed structure.

The calculation of site coverage for camping grounds and caravan parks is explained under Section 138 of the Regulation.

In the case of a caravan park, the dwelling site, if not already provided with a covered car space or if there is no resident parking space provided elsewhere within the park, must have an accessible area car space (measuring 6m by 3m), which should also be included in the calculation of site coverage.

Setback requirements for structures vary depending on the type of structure proposed and the type of site it is located on. Generally, each structure must not be installed less than 3 metres from another structure in relation to a long-term site, and no less than 2.5 metres in the case of a short-term dwelling site.

Excluding carports/garages

The minimum separation distances for moveable dwellings and associated structures, excluding carports/garages on a dwelling site in a caravan park are:

• 3m for installations on different long-term sites
• 3m for installations on a long-term and short-term site
• 2.5m for installations on different short-term sites.

It is important to note that:

• All installations must be set back 1m (min) from an internal park road.
• No more than one moveable dwelling per dwelling site.
• A caravan must not be installed on a dwelling site on which a relocatable home is installed.

Including carports/garages

The minimum separation distances for moveable dwellings and associated structures, including carports/garages on a dwelling site in a caravan park are:

• 3m for installations on adjoining dwelling sites, including carports
• 3m for installations on a long-term and short-term site
• 2.5m for installations on short-term sites.

It is important to note that:

• All installations must be set back 1m (min) from an internal park road.
• Carports must have a minimum of two sides open and half of its perimeter open. If not, then this structure will be defined as a garage and must comply with Section 140 of the Regulation.
• No more than one moveable dwelling per dwelling site.
• A caravan must not be installed on a dwelling site on which a relocatable home is installed.
• See Section 139 and Section 140 of the Regulation for exemptions relating to garages and carports.

Various types of installations

The minimum separation distances for various types of installations in a caravan park are:

• 3m for installations on adjoining dwelling sites, including carports
• 3m for installations on a long-term and short-term site
• 2.5m for installations on short-term sites.

It is important to note that:

• All installations must be set back 1m (min) from an internal park road.
• Carports must have a minimum of two sides open and one-third of its perimeter open. If not, then this structure will be defined as a garage and must comply with Section 140 of the Regulation.
• No more than one moveable dwelling per dwelling site.
• A caravan must not be installed on a dwelling site on which a relocatable home is installed.
• See Section 139 and Section 140 of the Regulation for exemptions relating to garages and carports.

If Council becomes aware that work has been carried out on a dwelling site not in accordance with the Regulation, Council may take enforcement action, which could include any of the following:

• the issue of a formal letter
• the issue of verbal advice
• the issue of notices/orders
• refusal to issue an approval to operate the manufactured home estate/caravan park
• commencement of legal proceedings.