Collecting and using rainwater can:
- reduce water bills
- provide a supply of fresh drinking water
- reduce pressure on local water catchments
For general information on rainwater tanks, please contact our Environmental Operations Team on 9401 0512.
Council permit requirements
Building permit
You only need a building permit to install a rainwater tank when undertaking other building work, for example:
- adding or altering your dwelling
- building a new dwelling
In such cases, the tank must be installed at least 500mm from the boundary.
If you are installing a water tank without undertaking other building work, there are no siting requirements or minimum distances from your title boundaries.
Planning permit
You may need a planning permit to install a rainwater tank when:
- the tank is larger than 4,500 litres
- installation requires the removal of native vegetation, excavation or earth filling
- the property is within a Heritage or Public Acquisition Overlay
We encourage you to check your Certificate of Title, in case it includes any restrictions on installing a rainwater tank within your property.
For more information, contact Building Services on 9217 2259 and Established Areas Planning on
9217 2236.