Living in tiny homes on wheels officially permitted for up to two years in Shire of Denmark in new policy

Tiny homes will soon be wheeled onto Denmark properties in a move to address the region’s housing crisis, making it the first local governments to act since Statewide regulations changed in September. The Shire of Denmark unanimously adopted the Semi-Permanent Approvals for Tiny Homes on Wheels policy at its meeting on November 26. The new policy allows wheeled tiny homes to be used on a property for up to two years with the aim to allow affordable, flexible and dignified housing options for those that might be doing it tough. Under the policy the shire can approve the use of one tiny home on wheels per private residential lot for a 24-month period — a permit that can be extended or renewed provided conditions are met. The total cost for the permit is $535 for two years including application fees, with a $200 renewal cost. Denmark shire president Kingsley Gibson said the new policy aims to alleviate stress on the local housing market. “We hope that this policy will encourage tiny homes to increase the supply of affordable small-format housing across our shire in circumstances where this can be achieved in a safe and sensitive manner,” he said. Denmark has historically been one of the worst-hit areas of the housing crisis, with chief executive David King previously stating he believed affordability in the shire is “probably one of the worst in the whole State”. The policy contains a list of minimum requirements including considerations related to nature of the structure — excluding buses, camper vans, caravans, tents or shipping containers from being considered under the tiny home category — service connections, bushfire risk, health and safety. Cr Nathan Devenport said he was “stoked” to see more avenues open up to creatively address the crisis for future generations. “I think all the time about how hard it’s going to be for my kids in the future,” he said. “I’ve got a house, I’m sorted but I think we need options and it’s pretty cool that we live in a community who thinks of options to accommodate people because not everybody’s dealt the same card. “I think this is a pretty good move and I’m stoked to be a part of it.” Cr Jan Lewis said there are already people with “things in motion” and believed “applications will come in as soon as we have this policy on the shelf”. More information on the policy is available via the shire’s website. A WA Local Government Association spokesperson said the Shire of Denmark was the first to update its policy for the new two-year limit. The decision follows the amendment to the Caravan Park and Camping Grounds Regulations 1997 implemented on September 1 that gives local governments permission to increase the time limit for “camping” from its previous three-month limit.