Whether a tiny home needs approval depends on your state's laws, your council's rules, your property and how you plan to use the home. This free, printable worksheet helps you get clear, written answers before you hand over any money.

It covers every state and territory, including the ACT and NT, where planning decisions aren't made by local councils.

What's inside

Four things to work out before you call. Your zone and any overlays, whether your home will stay on wheels or be fixed, who will live in it, and who to ask for.

The 13 questions. What to ask about vacant blocks, lot and size limits, overlays, approval pathways, wastewater, guest stays and renting it out, each with a short note on how the rules differ between states.

What their answer means. How to read common replies like "you need a DA" or "we don't have a tiny home policy".

Get it in writing. An email template to confirm what you were told, plus three builder red flags to check before you pay a deposit.

Planning terms you might hear. The words councils and certifiers use, and how they differ between states.