The department administers the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Act 1995 (the Act).
Camping and caravanning are activities enjoyed by many locals and tourists in Western Australia.
All camping and caravan use is regulated by the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Act 1995.
This legislation ensures that:
Under the Act, all caravan parks must be licensed by their local governments.
The park owner must renew their licence annually. They must also ensure that their park is up to standard and has all the buildings and services required by the Act.
Residents of caravan parks must also comply with certain standards to ensure that the park is safe and enjoyable for everyone.
The complete list of standards is set out in the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Regulations 1997. Additional standards can also be imposed on the park depending on the terms of the park’s licence.
Some caravan parks are specifically set up for the use of park homes. The Act defines a park home as being:
Park homes are subject to special requirements regarding their design, certification and installation.
It is recognised that not everyone wants to camp inside a licensed caravan park.
For this reason, the Act allows people to camp outside of licensed parks provided they have obtained the right approval. Further details on these exemptions can be found below:
These exemptions are designed for occasional or once-off situations and only grant protection to the camper.
If a property owner allows short-term camping to occur regularly on their property, they will still be operating a caravan park and need to comply with the requirements of the Act.
As a general rule, caravan parks need to provide a minimum level facilities and services to anyone who is residing in the park.
However, parks which are set up in natural environments may be licensed as a nature based park. These parks are designed to allow people to camp in a natural environment while minimising the environmental impact of campsites.
Nature based parks have less buildings and don’t need to provide as many amenities. However, minimum standards still apply. The park will also be subject to stricter rules regarding fire control, waste disposal and camper safety.
Email legislation@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
Executive DirectorSector Regulation and SupportDepartment of Local Government, Sport and Cultural IndustriesGPO Box 8349 Perth Business Centre WA 6849