Changes to Tiny House Regulations in Mount Alexander Shire Council (Local Law 13)

It’s official. Mount Alexander Shire Council has changed Local Law 13 (Camping on private property with an existing dwelling) to allow tiny houses to reside on a property that has a house on it for an indefinite period of time without the need for a permit.

What does this mean for you? Well, if you’d like to live in a tiny house, and know of somebody with a house that doesn’t mind you living in their backyard, then you’re in luck—you can live there as long as you like without a permit. If you have a family member that you’d like to live with you on your property that fancies living in a tiny house, then you’re in luck—they can live with you as long as they like without a permit.

There are many scenarios: If you like the idea of sharing your property with others and would like to earn a rental income, you’re in luck—you can. If you’d like year-round help on your farm, you’re in luck—you can now accommodate helpers year-round in a tiny house. If you have a wonderful large garden, but are becoming too old to manage it yourself, don’t worry—you can have some spritely young people help you with your labours in return for lodgings in a tiny house. If you’d like to have a tiny house for guests that come to stay, and have the good fortune of having friends that are so much fun you may never want them to leave, you’re in luck—they don’t have to.

All in all, Mount Alexander Shire Council is making it easier to live in a tiny house in the shire—thank you council! All you have to do in return, is promise to manage your greywater, sewage and other waste responsibly. This means doing a bit of extra work to make sure you’re not leaking all over the ground—use a compost toilet and dispose of the refuse responsibly, and divert your grey water to an underground channel in the garden. Simple.

‘But what if there’s no house on the land I want to put a tiny house on?’ you may ask. Well, in that case you will need to apply for a permit. A good first step is to contact council and arrange a time to speak with a planner who will be able to give you advice and help you with the next steps.