Do you need council approval for a garden shed?

• Do you need council approval for a garden shed?

The quick answer to, “Do you need council approval for a garden shed?”   is almost certainly “No” for most.

Generally, unless you are building a large shed to be used as an occasional or full-time dwelling, most storage and garden sheds don’t require council approval in most States.

General rules for building sheds – Do you need council approval for a garden shed?  

Council rules and regulations will vary from State to State and council to council but most  rules apply Australia-wide.

Rules

Sheds 10 square meters and smaller usually do not require council approval although in some areas the minimum allowed is 9 square metres and in some again it might be as much as 20 square metres.

Also, for most councils,

1. your shed should be lower than 2.4m high and
2. The Shed should be at least 900mm from adjoining properties *although this might be just 500mm with some councils)
3. A shed can be constructed if you live in a heritage conservation area.
4. In a bushfire area, sheds must be made of a non-combustible material

The Council definition of a Sheds   

A shed is defined as “ a*non-habitable* structures”. The size, shape and location of the shed must not make it dominate the surrounding landscape.
and

A shed must still be built to the minimum Building Codes of Australia standards:- This is why, particularly for industrial and farm sheds, it is so important to have a look at the Professional Choice range and use the Shed Health Test before buying.

 Do you need council approval for a garden shed?  

Requirements by state

Here is a quick summary by state. While this is intended as a helpful guide, it is still important to check with your local council.

NSW

Your shed is no larger than 20 square metres if you live in a residential area.

If you live in a rural area (RU1, RU2, RU3, RU4 or RU5), your shed is no larger than 50 square metres.

Your shed is at least 900mm away from each boundary

Victoria

A building permit is required for sheds greater than 10m² in floor area.

For sheds not more than 10 m² in floor area, a building permit is not required providing the shed is:

• not more than 3 m in height or
• if within 1 m of a boundary not more than 2.4 m in height

Queensland

There are relatively few exceptions in Queensland if you’re looking to purchase a shed. If your shed meets the following requirements, you do not need to apply for a permit:

1.   10 square metres is the maximum shed area permitted
2.  Any single wall should not be longer than 5 metres
3.   The maximum height of a shed is 2.4 metres high
4. The average height of the shed should not be of more than 2.1 metres

ACT

The ACT has similar requirements as Queensland but there are extra considerations about block size you need to be aware of.

1.   If your Block size of 600 square metres or larger, your shed can have a maximum square metreage of 50 square metres
2.   Block size of between 500 and 600 square metres, your shed must be 25 square metres or smaller
3.   If your block size is less than 500 square metres, a shed must be 10 square metres or smaller

In addition to these requirements,in order to avoid the need of a permit, the shed must:

•   Be behind the building line (and, if it is larger than 10 square metres, it also needs to be 15 metres back from the front boundary)
•   Not be raised more than 3 metres above the ground level

There are also special considerations if you’ll be building two exempt structures (like a garden shed) within 1.5 metres of a side boundary or back boundary, so make sure to check with the council if you’re part of this special category.

South Australia

Garden sheds can only be installed without prior development approval if it would have dimensions that are no more than:

• 10m² in floor area (if in a Historic Conservation Zone);
• 15m² in floor area (in any other Zone);
• 2.5 metres in height; and a span greater than 3 metres

Tasmania

Here are the guidelines for a shed that doesn’t need council approval:

• A shed should be built in the backyard
• The land is not Heritage listed
• A shed is less than 9 square metres, with no one wall longer than 3 metres
• Roof pitch must be less than 25 degrees
• If the shed is raised off of the ground, the highest part cannot be higher than 2.4 metres off the ground
• If your shed is within 1 metre of a boundary, the height cannot exceed 2.4 metres
• The shed doesn’t extend beyond the front wall of the main building
• Constructed of a material other than masonry (With an EasyShed, you’re in the clear!)

Western Australia

Here are the guidelines for a shed that doesn’t need a permit:

• It’s no taller than 2.4 metres
• It does not extend beyond the front setback line
• The shed complies with fire safety requirements of the main building
• A shed should not be raised above 500mm from the ground
• A shed must not be within 900mm of any other structure
• Any structure, including sheds, must be securely anchored as a defense against strong winds
• Australian Standards will applu – a shed must be structurally strong
• There is no visual interference with sight lines for vehicles
• Conservation precincts may not be permitted a shed installation

Western Australia council also strongly recommends that you talk to your neighbours about potentially installing a garden shed in the backyard.

Northern Territory

Our last stop is Northern Territory! Here are the requirements for a non-permit shed:

Option One (Residential Area): For a shed in which the roof area doesn’t exceed 12 square metres, you’ll need the height to be less than 2.1 metres. This shed has to be at least 40 metres away from all boundaries.

Option Two (Rural Area): For a shed with a roof area of between 12 and 30 square metres, the height should be under 2.4 metres and the shed must be over 70 metres away from all boundaries.

Summary Do you need council approval for a garden shed?

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