Caravan Parks & Manufactured Home Estates

In accordance with Section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993, a property owner must apply to their local council for approval to operate a new Caravan Park or Manufactured Home Estate (MHE), with renewals required for ongoing operation.

This applies after Development Consent is in place.

You’ll generally need to provide:

• Property and operator details
• Approved site or community layout
• Details of facilities and amenities
• Safety and emergency information (including fire safety where required)
• Site numbers and accommodation types

What happens next

• Council will assess your application against regulatory requirements
• Fees must be paid before approval can be issued
• Once granted, the approval must be displayed onsite

Apply for a new Approval to Operate by completing the

Activity Application Form

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Renewal for approval to operate

An Approval to Operate is valid for 5 years. You must renew it before it expires to avoid disruption to park operations.

When to apply

•    Lodge your renewal application before the expiry date
•    Applying early helps avoid delays or compliance issues

What you’ll generally be asked to confirm

•    That park operations remain consistent with the current approval
•    Any changes to site layout, facilities or services
•    Current operator and contact details

If there have been significant changes, an amendment may be required instead of (or in addition to) a renewal.

Renew an existing Approval to Operate

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Before installing a relocatable or manufactured home:

• Confirm the site is Council-approved within the park or estate
• Check whether the site is flood prone or the dwelling is two storeys

If the site is flood prone or the dwelling is multi storey, an Activity Application form (under Section 68 approval) is required before installation. This is the same form used for a New Approval to Operate. 

If no approval trigger applies, proceed to Notice of Completion.

Activity Application formBack to top

You must submit a Notice of Completion within 7 days of installing a dwelling.

You will generally need:

•    Engineer’s certificate
•    Site diagram showing compliance with setbacks, density and open space requirements

Notice of Completion form

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If ownership or operator details change:

• Notify Council by contacting the Customer Service desk or via ask@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
• Ensure Approval to Operate records remain current

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Operators must:

• Keep approvals and site documentation accessible onsite
• Community map requirement 
  * Operators are required under the Local Government (Manufactured Home Estates, Caravan Parks, Camping Grounds and Moveable Dwellings) Regulation to maintain an up to date community map for the park or estate and make it accessible in accordance with legislative requirements.
  * The map must reflect the approved layout and operating conditions.
• Ensure utilities, amenities and safety measures meet required standards
• Fire safety and emergency management
  * Operators must ensure fire safety measures, emergency access and emergency management arrangements meet applicable legislative and regulatory requirements. Additional obligations may apply depending on the site, location and risk profile.

Council conducts routine inspections to check compliance with approval conditions and regulations.

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People living in caravan parks, manufactured home estates and land lease communities have rights and responsibilities under NSW law.

Council regulates some safety and operating standards but does not manage tenancy matters.

Council typically regulates

• Approvals to operate and compliance with conditions
• Standards relating to site layout, facilities, utilities and fire safety (where required)

Park operators manage

• Day to day park management
• Community rules
• Site agreements and tenancy matters

• Immediate safety risk – contact emergency services or Council for urgent safety or compliance concerns
• General park issues – raise with the park operator first
• Tenancy or agreement disputes – follow NSW land lease community pathways (not Council)

Residential land lease community guidance (NSW)

• New parks or estates require Development Consent
• Expansions or major changes to existing parks usually require Development Consent
• An Approval to Operate can only be issued once planning approvals are in place

Approval to Operate does not replace Development Consent.

• Site constraints (flooding, bushfire, coastal risk)
• Site mix (short term vs long term)
• Utilities, access and parking
• Community facilities and impacts (where required)

Development Applications overview

Track or review a DA

DCP Chapter 2.8 – Caravan Parks

Used only where owner consent is refused, withdrawn or disputed.

This is not the default approval pathway.

Some Section 82 applications may require additional documentation or submission outside Council’s online forms. Applicants should refer to the relevant form guidance for lodgement requirements. 

This form can also be used when compliance regulations are not being met in accordance with Local Government (Manufactured Home Estates, Caravan Parks, Camping Grounds and Moveable Dwellings).

Once completed, submit this form at the Customer Service desk or via ask@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Section 82 Form