The Shire of Kent regulates camping and temporary accommodation on private and Shire-managed land that is not a licensed caravan park or camping ground. This includes staying in a caravan, campervan, motorhome, tent, bus or similar structure.

Do I need approval?

You can camp or stay in temporary accommodation on a property for up to 5 nights within any 28-day period without Shire approval.

If you want to stay for more than 5 nights in a 28-day period, you must apply to the Shire (or, for stays of more than 3 months where the accommodation is for friends or family in a separate caravan, to the Minister) before you occupy the site.

Approval is required regardless of whether the land is privately owned or managed by the Shire.

What this policy covers

This policy applies to camping or temporary accommodation:

• in caravans, campervans, motorhomes, tents, buses or similar structures;
• on private land or land managed by the Shire of Kent;
• outside of a licensed caravan park or camping ground.

It does not apply to caravan parks or camping grounds, reserves not managed by the Shire of Kent, or emergency and disaster relief accommodation authorised separately by Council or a State agency.

Temporary accommodation approved under this policy cannot be used as a holiday rental or for tourism purposes, and does not grant planning or building approval for permanent residential use.

How to apply

To apply, submit an Application for Approval to Camp to the Shire before you occupy the site.

• A non-refundable application fee of $200 applies, payable at the time of submission.
• Each application is assessed individually — approval is not guaranteed.
• Only one temporary accommodation set-up will be approved per lot. If you’d also like friends or family to stay in a separate caravan on the same property, a separate approval is needed — from the Shire for stays up to 3 months, or from the Minister for stays longer than 3 months.

What we consider when assessing your application

Applications are assessed against a number of factors, including:

• location and zoning of the property;
• the proposed duration of stay;
• health and safety considerations;
• environmental and amenity impacts on neighbouring properties; and
• bushfire risk.

Conditions if approved

If your application is approved, conditions will apply to protect the health, safety and amenity of occupants and neighbouring properties. These typically include requirements that:

• external fixtures (such as aerials, satellite dishes or clotheslines) are not visually obtrusive and are, where possible, out of view from the street or public areas;
• the accommodation is kept in a habitable state, with access to approved water, wastewater disposal and rubbish disposal at all times;
• the accommodation remains mobile and can be moved or towed within 24 hours of services being disconnected;
• adequate toilet and shower facilities are available for the number of people staying;
• rubbish and wastewater are managed so they don’t create a nuisance, odour, or attract vermin — wastewater cannot be discharged onto the ground;
• no additional camps are set up under the same approval.

Council may also impose other conditions, such as limits on the length of stay, restrictions on structures, clearing or earthworks, fire management measures, or a prohibition on permanent service connections. Failure to comply with any condition may result in the approval being cancelled.

How long does approval last?

Approvals are granted for a specified period only, up to a maximum of 24 months per allotment, and do not guarantee future approval. You can reapply after 24 months if you wish to continue.

Compliance

Camping and temporary accommodation under this policy is governed by the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Regulations 1997. Authorised officers enforce compliance, and penalties apply under the legislation for breaches.

If you no longer need your approval, you must notify the Shire in writing. The Shire may also revoke an approval if a condition has been breached — you’ll be given written notice and 35 days to respond before a final decision is made.

Apply

Please fill in this form and either send to the Shire of Kent via email to admin@kent.wa.gov.au or submit your application in person to the Shire office.

Fillable – Application for Camping Other Than Caravan Park