A planning and/or building permit may be needed to use a shipping container for:
A shipping container used for domestic storage, farm storage or as a detached habitable building, such as a studio or rumpus room/bungalow, will be classified as an outbuilding under the Hepburn Shire Planning Scheme.
A planning permit for building and works to site an outbuilding/shipping container on your property may be required, depending on your property’s planning zones and overlays. See our Planning advice page.
A property used to store empty shipping containers could be considered a commercial use of the land. An application for a planning permit is be required to be lodged with Council.
Shipping containers used on properties for medium or long-term use as a habitable or non-habitable outbuilding, shed, storage or similar will require a building permit. See our Building permits page.
Shipping containers placed on site temporarily to assist in moving house or for site building works during construction do not require a Building or Planning Permit. It is recommended that the surrounding neighbours be notified of the proposed timelines.
Shipping containers used on commercial properties for any purpose other than short-term loading of goods for shipping purposes or in designated container storage facilities, require a building permit. See our Building permits page.
If the container requires a permit, it must comply with the requirements of the building regulations and all the relevant parts of the National Construction Code.