Shipping Container Removals - Do I need a Council Permit?

If you're investigating moving your home contents using shipping container removals  you might be unsure what the rules and regulations are regarding the drop off of a shipping container at your property. 

The quick answer to that question is that there are no set rules, Australia-wide. 

Every council and shire have different regulations on the placement of containers and skip bins and these vary significantly between states and councils, some areas have very strict guidelines regarding shipping containers, and others are much more lenient.

Key Considerations for Council Permits

When using shipping containers for moving furniture in Australia, understanding local council regualtions is crucial to avoid fines or legal issues. Each council has its own guidelines regarding the use of shipping containers, especially concerning placement, duration, and compliance with zoning laws.

As a rule of thumb, if a shipping container is to be temporarily placed within your property bounds for a few days or a few weeks, there is no council permission required in all states. There can be some confusion on where one's own property lines end and where council land begins. For most people the nature strip or verge (depending on your terminology) is usually council property.  

We never place shipping containers on pedestrian walk ways or footpaths. This is not allowed in any state and can be a major hazard for many pedestrians as well as unsafe.

When you book an interstate move with Budget Self Pack Containers, we will always view your address(es) on Google maps and provide an assessment of the best placement for a container at your property. Our first preference is always to place a container within the bounds of your property when truck access permits. When we do not see a suitable area within your property to place a container, we will assess the surrounding area - verge, roadside, carparks etc; we can then advise where we think the council is most likely to approve placement with a permit.

Temporary placement of a moving container on your property

When you contact your local council office with regard to a shipping container permit for moving your household items, it is essential that you specify that it is a temporary placement that you require. There are different regulations that apply for the use of shipping containers as more permanent structures on a property. Generally speaking, containers used for moving should not be kept on your property for extended periods with the appropriate permissions.

Duration of stay

Most councils will advise the maximum amount of time that you can have a shipping container temporarily placed on your prorperty or on council property with or without a permit. In our experience, most councils prefer the container to be placed for a minimum amount of time with the average permit being granted for anywhere from 1 day to a few weeks. If you anticipate needing the container for a longer period at your property this would need to be negotiated directly with the council.

Transport and safety considerations

When considering the placement of a shipping container, particularly on the roadside, it is essential that the number one consideration is the safety of the public and of the container and its contents. If the container is going to block the line of sight for traffic, it would be deemed a hazard and it's likely that a permit would not be granted. Other factors that come into play are:

How busy is the road that the container will be placed on?

Are there any nearby schools/churches/hospitals or other public places that may be impacted by the placement of the container?

Will the container restrict the access and movement of public buses/ garbage removals trucks / post delivery vehicles?

Site management and safety

When a shipping container is placed on the road or verge we always recommend that you supply reflective traffic bollards and tape to place around the container.

This is to assist with visibility. The container (unlike a parked vehicle) does not have any reflective lights so can be difficult to see in dark conditions.

Public Liability Insurance for shipping containers

In the event that a container is placed on council or public land, we can supply Public Liability Insurance. When you make a booking with us, please let us know if this is required.

How to apply for a shipping container council permit

To apply for permission to have a shipping container placed at your property for interstate container removals, you will need to apply directly to your local council office.

Many councils now have an online application form to apply for the permit. This can usually be found in the 'online application' forms section of the website. 

Part of the application process will be providing the public liability insurance as mentioned above, we will forward this certificate to you when required.

If you are planning an interstate container removal or even if you are unsure if a container could be placed at your address, get in touch with us and we will be happy to advise options - all quotes and online address assessments are obligation free. Get in touch today!