States and territories
Rules, rebates and suppliers by state
The volume a tank can reach before it needs approval ranges from 5,000 L in WA to 20,000 L in the ACT. Pick a state for the full picture, with a source for every rule.
At a glance
| State | Tank approval | Bushfire water | New homes | Suppliers checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Exempt up to 10,000 L above ground if Codes SEPP standards are met | Set by the development consent under PBP 2019 | BASIX certificate sets the tank | 13 |
| Queensland | No building approval under 10 m², 3.6 m Ø, 2.4 m high, 5 m long | No state table loaded | Council opt-in, e.g. Toowoomba | 16 |
| Victoria | No building permit for free-standing tanks; planning rules by council | BMO: 2,500 to 10,000 L, concrete or metal | None statewide | 5 |
| South Australia | Approval only over 10 m² and 4 m high | MBS 008: 2,000 to 22,000 L | 1,000 L plumbed to toilet on new homes | 4 |
| Western Australia | Building permit over 5,000 L | No state table loaded | None statewide | 3 |
| Tasmania | Ask council; new tank is Category 2 plumbing | No state table loaded | None statewide | 2 |
| Northern Territory | No planning approval; keep out of firebreaks | No state table loaded | None statewide | 3 |
| Australian Capital Territory | No DA up to 20 kL and 3 m high | No state table loaded | None statewide | 2 |
Summaries of the sources on each state page. Local rules and overlays can add conditions. Supplier counts include only suppliers with a checked source.