Glamping has been sought by Australians especially when it’s situated in a serene area. Whether you are seeking rest or up for some adventure along the woods, it’s another way to create a camping experience with glam, thus, glamping. Yet, when you want to build a glamping area at the proximity of your home or even start a business out of it, many people often are confused about whether or not they need permission for it.
“It’s just camping!”, or “It’s not even a concrete building”, comes to mind. Nevertheless, it may sound unnecessary for some, but securing planning permission for glamping depends on the circumstances.
If you want to start a business…
Glamping may be like camping for everyone but there’s a fine line between the two. In camping, you only need to assemble tents. However, in glamping, you need to construct the tents beforehand and they cannot be removed and packed like the usual camping tents.
Hence, there’s a need for construction materials when you talk about glamping. May it be a dome, safari tent, or bell tent, all of them need to be built above ground. Consequently, you ought to remember that building one may or may not need planning permissions, as it depends on what location you are constructing them.
Location
The location is the most important aspect when glamping. As glamping usually sets foot in bushland and forests, you need to secure planning permission first from the municipal authorities. Underlying conditions like safety, preservation, and area are always considered, so you can do glamping legally while not compromising the natural habitats of species. Also, hazardous areas are likely to be seen as risky, and it might be difficult to build your glamping site in these locations.
Therefore, you may contact the Australian Business License and Information Service to know about the requirements to start at campground operation.
Temporary Glamping
On the other hand, if you want to have to install moveable glamping pods on a campground, you may not need planning permission at all. This is true especially for Shepherd’s huts that have wheels and can be moved from time to time. Still, if these huts offer amenities like water, gas, sewage, and electricity, it is a requirement to seek the correct planning permission for such services.
If you want to do glamping at home…
Installing a glamping facility at home does not need any planning permission. This is because it is seen as an additional enjoyment to home and comes under the permitted development rights for the house. But just a heads up, there are restrictions for this. For instance, if your hut/pod is 2.5 meters in height, takes 50% or more of your garden space, and disrupts your neighbours’ properties or windows, you might need to seek approval and have planning permission.
Also, the glamping facility should not be rented out and used by other people aside from the family members of the homeowners. If this is an issue, you must need planning permission and a permit to operate via your local authorities for this. So are you glamping for a hobby or doing a glamping business? Remember to take note of these considerations to enjoy hassle-free glamping anytime!
