We build tiny houses on wheels in East Lismore, roughly two hours south of the Gold Coast. Queensland is our closest market outside our own state, so a good share of what leaves our yard heads north. What follows applies to tiny homes Queensland wide, from the Gold Coast to Cairns.
Short answer on legality. The Queensland Government’s planning department states that tiny homes that are moveable and not fixed to the land are generally not regulated by the planning framework and are considered to be caravans, regulated under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995. The Queensland Building and Construction Commission agrees from the building side: a tiny home on a trailer not fixed to land or connected to utilities is treated as a caravan, under transport and vehicle registration rules rather than building laws.
Fix that same home to the land and everything changes. The QBCC says it becomes a Class 1a building and must meet all building, planning and plumbing requirements. Between those positions sits your council, and Queensland councils vary more than any other state.
Can you live in a tiny house in QLD
Yes, and the wheels are the reason.
Because a moveable tiny home is a caravan rather than a building, it does not need building approval under the Building Act 1975. That was tested in 2016, when the Queensland Building and Development Dispute Resolution Committee found in favour of a Brisbane couple, deciding a tiny house on a registered trailer was not a fixed structure requiring building approval. ABC News reported it at the time and it remains the reference point most people cite.
Where it gets uneven is how long you can stay. State guidance is explicit that some local governments have made local laws to allow property owners to let people live in a caravan or temporary use tiny home in their backyard. That wording matters. Absent such a local law or a permit, the position on your block is set by your council, not by state law.
Fixed tiny homes have a clearer path. Queensland’s planning department says tiny and small homes are considered suitable housing forms to be used as a secondary dwelling and are encouraged, where fixed to the land. That is backed by the Planning Regulation change of 26 September 2022 removing restrictions on who can live in a secondary dwelling. A granny flat in Queensland can now be rented to anyone.
What the rules actually say
Tiny house regulations in Queensland come from three places: state building law, state transport law, and your council’s local laws.
Building law. All residential development requires building approval under the Building Act 1975, including the Building Code of Australia, and plumbing and drainage approval under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018. The QBCC adds that a tiny home fixed to land and used as a dwelling must be installed by a licensed contractor unless you hold an owner builder permit, and recommends engaging a private building certifier early.
Registration. Queensland Government guidance on registering a trailer or caravan says a trailer with an aggregate trailer mass over 750kg needs a pre registration inspection, and a trailer manufactured from 1 July 2023 needs a VIN applied for through the Road Vehicle Regulator system, followed by an inspection to confirm identity. A safety certificate is required for trailers over 750kg ATM other than brand new units. If you move to Queensland with a trailer already registered interstate, you have 14 days to register it in Queensland.
Local laws decide it for most people. Toowoomba Regional Council’s Subordinate Local Law No. 1.3 (Establishment or Occupation of a Temporary Home) 2020 names tiny homes directly and limits caravans and tiny homes used as short term temporary accommodation to a period not exceeding 112 days, with permits that cannot be renewed. Townsville City Council runs an Occupy Temporary Dwelling application under its own Subordinate Local Law 1.3, normally for the period a permanent dwelling is under construction. Ipswich City Council states plainly that permanent living in temporary accommodation is only permitted in a caravan park, and issues permits to a maximum of 18 months.
Reform is on the table. Noosa MP Sandy Bolton’s May 2026 update reports the state position that regulation of tiny homes is made by local governments through local laws, and that an independent review of the Planning Act 2016 and Building Act 1975, due by the end of 2026, will assess it. Nothing has changed yet.
Council by council reality
Fraser Coast Regional Council is the clearest positive example. It changed its local laws to let property owners have family or friends live in a caravan in their backyard for up to six months in twelve, with the arrangement due to expire at the end of 2027 unless extended.
Cairns Regional Council publishes a tiny house fact sheet and takes a firm line. A tiny home on wheels needs no approval only where it is registered as a caravan or trailer, lawfully parked, used solely for travel accommodation, not connected to services and not rented out. Anything else and you are into planning, building and plumbing approvals under CairnsPlan 2016. If you want tiny homes in Cairns as a permanent place to live, read that fact sheet first.
Brisbane City Council is quieter than most. Its Caravan Parks and Relocatable Home Parks Local Law 2000 is aimed at operating a park, and we could not find a Brisbane local law that puts a time limit on one household living in a caravan on their own land, as Toowoomba’s does. Quiet is not the same as permitted. Ask Council for a written position on your address before you buy.
City of Gold Coast publishes a long list of local laws covering camping areas and rental accommodation, and we could not identify one dealing with a caravan lived in on private residential land. Secondary dwellings are permitted across the residential zones under the Gold Coast City Plan, which is the pathway most people use for tiny homes on the Gold Coast. Confirm your zone and lot with the City.
For tiny homes in Rockhampton and on the Sunshine Coast we could not verify a published council position, so we will not invent one. The rule varies by local government area. Contact Rockhampton Regional Council or Sunshine Coast Council and ask about temporary home permits and secondary dwellings for your address.
Getting a tiny home to Queensland
Distance is why Queensland works for us. East Lismore is roughly two hours from the Gold Coast and under three from Brisbane, so a south east Queensland delivery is one of the cheapest runs we do. Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast add a few hours. Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns are long hauls, priced accordingly, and we quote them in writing.
Every home we build is 2.5 metres wide and sits under the 4.3 metre general access height limit, so a standard delivery needs no oversize permit or pilot vehicle. Crossing the border adds nothing to our paperwork.
Site access still decides the day. A 9.5 metre home needs room to swing through a gate and firm, level ground. Send photos of the driveway and the intended position early.
Which of our models suits Queensland
South east Queensland heat and humidity are the design problem, not cold. Ventilation, insulation and shading matter more than heating, which changes how we specify a home headed for Brisbane or the Gold Coast.
For a home going behind an existing house as a secondary dwelling or household accommodation, the 7.4 metre range fits most suburban blocks. Spirit starts at $93,000, Dreamer at $96,000 and Cozy at $100,000.
The 8.4 metre range suits full time living. Haven starts at $135,000, Essence at $140,000, and Inspiration at $255,000 for a much higher specification.
Rural blocks around Toowoomba, Rockhampton and the north suit the 9.5 metre homes, where space matters more than manoeuvring. Grand starts at $145,000, Impressor at $260,000 and Entertainer at $270,000. North of Bundaberg you are in cyclone country, so tie downs and how the home is secured on site need to be part of the conversation with us and with your council.
Frequently asked questions
Are tiny homes legal in Queensland?
On wheels, yes. The Queensland Government states that tiny homes that are moveable and not fixed to the land are generally not regulated by the planning framework and are considered caravans under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995. Fix the same home to the land and the QBCC says it becomes a Class 1a building needing building, planning and plumbing approval.
Do I need council approval for a tiny home in Queensland?
It depends on the council and on how long you plan to stay. Several councils run temporary home permits under local laws. Toowoomba caps caravans and tiny homes at 112 days, Ipswich issues permits to a maximum of 18 months, and Fraser Coast allows family or friends up to six months in twelve. Ring your own council before you order anything.
Can I live in a tiny home on wheels in Brisbane?
Brisbane City Council’s Caravan Parks and Relocatable Home Parks Local Law 2000 is aimed at operating parks, and we could not find a Brisbane local law that sets a time limit on one household living in a caravan on their own land. That is not the same as permission. Get Council’s written position on your address before you commit.
Do I need to register my tiny home with TMR?
If it is on a trailer and you tow it, yes. Queensland Government guidance says a trailer with an ATM over 750kg needs a pre registration inspection, and one manufactured from 1 July 2023 needs a VIN applied for through the Road Vehicle Regulator system. If you move to Queensland with a trailer registered interstate, you have 14 days to register it here.
Can I rent out a tiny home in Queensland?
A fixed secondary dwelling, yes. The Planning Regulation change that took effect on 26 September 2022 removed restrictions on who can live in a secondary dwelling, so a granny flat can be rented to anyone. A tiny home on wheels is a different case, because Cairns Regional Council treats renting it out as taking it outside the caravan exemption.
How much does delivery to Queensland cost?
It depends on distance and site access, and you get the figure in writing before you commit. East Lismore is roughly two hours from the Gold Coast and under three from Brisbane, so south east Queensland deliveries are among the cheapest we do. Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton are long hauls and priced accordingly.
Talk to Peter before you talk to a salesperson
Peter Wigley is our CEO and the NSW State Lead for the Australian Tiny House Association, and he lives in a tiny home himself. Ring him on 0411 079 446, tell him which Queensland council you are dealing with and what is already approved on your block, and he will tell you straight whether a home on wheels suits you or whether a fixed secondary dwelling is the better path. We have no showroom, so it is a phone call, photos of your site, and an honest answer. Email info@tinyhomesaustralia.com.au.