If you are starting a new caravan park or camping ground, taking over or making changes to an existing business, you will need to consider planning, building, and plumbing approvals.

Even if your project does not need a planning approval, you may still require a building approval or plumbing approval.

Planning approval

Your first step when starting any caravan park or camping ground is to check if you need a planning approval.  

Council’s planning scheme guides how land can be used and developed.

Caravan parks and camping grounds may need planning approval for these activities:

• starting a new caravan park or camping ground
• changing the type of activity (e.g. from private residence to caravan park)
• re-establishing a caravan park or camping ground that was abandoned
• changing the intensity of the activity (e.g. adding extra camping grounds)
• carrying out building work (e.g. adding a pool)
• carrying out plumbing or drainage work.

To find out if you need to submit a development application, you can:

• lodge an enquiry with Council
• arrange a pre-lodgement meeting with Council
• engage a town planning consultant registered with the Planning Institute of Australia. 
• self-assess your property details against Council’s planning scheme.

You can access Council's planning scheme using PD Online.

Building approval

Building work in a caravan park and camping ground may include:

• fitting out new facilities
• installing rigid annexe to caravans
• when caravans are used for long term residential purposes.

All building work is assessed against the building assessment provisions (including, but not limited to, the National Construction Code and the Queensland Development Code) which set the minimum requirements for building structure, fire safety, access and egress, health and amenity, and energy efficiency.

To find out if you need building approval, you can:

• lodge an enquiry with Council
• engage a building certifier licensed with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission 
• check if the type of building work is accepted development that may not require approval under Building Regulation 2021.

Compliance certificates for building work

Assessable building work requires building approval from a building certifier.  Sometimes the building certifier relies on advice from other people for assessing the design/specification and inspection of buildings.

The building certifier uses these forms to accept advice on assessable building work.

• Form 15 specifies the design and its limitations.
• Form 16 confirms the installation or construction meets the design.

Your building certifier will collect these forms if necessary.

During the licence application process, Council may ask for a Form 15 that certifies the design of a major component of your business (e.g. as manufactured homes), and a Form 16 to certify that the component was installed to the design specification.

Find out more about Forms 15 and 16.

Caravan parks and camping grounds with a swimming pool

Caravan parks and camping grounds with a swimming pool must meet the requirements of Queensland Development Code MP 3.4 - swimming pool barriers.

Plumbing and drainage approval

Caravan parks and camping grounds may need plumbing and drainage approval for the following activities:

• release of trade waste to sewer
• installation and maintenance of backflow prevention devices
• use of non-reticulated water supply (tank water)
• on-site sewage facilities.

The Plumbing Code of Australia forms Volume 3 of the National Construction Code and contains the technical provisions for plumbing and drainage.

Plumbing and drainage work should be conducted by a licensed plumber.

Trade waste consent

Trade waste is liquid waste produced by a business.  All businesses require consent from the local water authority to release trade waste to the sewer.

Trade waste from a caravan park or camping ground includes discharge from portable toilets, car wash bays, shared laundry, shared kitchens, and floor or mop sinks.

Some caravan parks may also need pre-treatment and monitoring equipment (e.g. separators, interceptors, grease traps, or in-sink or in-drain baskets) before discharge to sewer.The property owner or leasee (depending on the lease agreement) is responsible for organising trade waste consent including the installation of any pre-treatment equipment.

Backflow prevention devices

Backflow prevention devices stop sewage flowing back through to the town’s water supply.  There are two different types of backflow prevention devices, testable and non-testable.

All caravan parks and camping grounds connected to town water require a non-testable backflow prevention device.  A licensed plumber can install a non-testable backflow prevention device for you.

Caravan parks and camping grounds with pre-treatment equipment will need to have a testable backflow prevention device.  A testable backflow prevention device must be:

• installed by an endorsed backflow plumber
• registered with Council by the endorsed backflow plumber
• inspected or tested annually by a licensed plumbing contractor.

Non-reticulated water supply

Reticulated water is drinkable water supplied by the local water authority. Non-reticulated water is any other water you have access to (e.g. rainwater, groundwater from wells or bores, or greywater from baths, sinks, washing machines, and other kitchen appliances).

Some local governments require the use of rainwater or greywater systems for new buildings.  A list of participating local governments is available on the Department of Housing and Public Works site.

Caravan parks and camping grounds with access to town water (reticulated water) must use town water to supply patrons with clean drinking water.

If you don’t have access to town water, you will need to demonstrate the water you supply is safe to use.  This normally means you need to chemically treat, heat treat, or specially filter the water.  Find out how you can safely use non-reticulated water.

Caravan parks and camping grounds can still use rainwater or greywater (or other non-reticulated water) for non-drinking purposes including flushing toilets, gardening, car washing, and as cold water for washing machines.

The installation of a non-reticulated water supply must meet the requirements of Queensland Development Code MP 4.3 – Supplementary Water Sources. A plumbing approval is not required to use rainwater or greywater in your building, but your plumber will need to notify the Queensland Building and Construction Commission.  Your plumber will provide you with a copy of the notification.

You may need planning approval or a building approval for storage tanks larger than 10m2, or if the tank is located in a cyclone area.

On-site sewage facilities

Some caravan parks and camping grounds may not have access to a sewerage connection.

You will need to provide on-site sewage facilities to treat, store and dispose of wastewater from sinks, showers, baths and toilets.  On-site sewage facilities include an on-site sewage treatment plant or a septic system.

On-site sewage facilities require approval from Council. Some on-site sewage treatment plants require an environmental authority with the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science (DES).  Find more information on sewage treatment plants for small resorts and caravan parks.