Planning guide
Do I need council approval for a shed?
Written and verified by Struqt’s registered architects · Last verified July 2026
In most of Australia, you can erect a small shed with no approval process. However, if you build over a certain size, put it too close to a boundary, or add power or plumbing, you can trigger approval requirements.
Sources: NSW Codes SEPP 2008 (exempt development) · PlanSA — accepted development pathways
Key takeaway: Whatever your state's conditions, three elements apply almost everywhere: Keep it behind the front of your house — not between the house and the street. Keep it off the boundary — usually at least 900mm clear. No power or plumbing — connecting either almost always tips you into needing approval.
When you don't need approval
Every state and territory sets a size below which a shed is treated as low-impact and exempt. A shed is a Class 10a building under the National Construction Code — the term for a non-habitable structure like a shed, carport or garage. These are the current exempt thresholds:
New South Wales
up to 20m² · max height 3m
at least 900mm off every boundary and 1m clear of easements
Northern Territory
up to 15m² · max height 2.5m
up to 36m² if supplied and installed by an approved self-certifier
South Australia
up to 15m² · max height 2.5m
no exemption at all in heritage and historic overlay areas
Queensland
up to 10m² · max height 2.4m
not in cyclone regions (Wind Region C — broadly coastal QLD north of Bundaberg)
Western Australia
up to 10m² · max height 2.4m
freestanding, outside cyclonic wind regions; a separate planning exemption (R-Codes) has its own limits
ACT
10m² to 50m² · max height 3m
10m² on blocks under 500m², 25m² from 500 to under 600m², 50m² on blocks of 600m² or more
| State / territory | Exempt up to | Max height | The rule that sets it |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | up to 20m² at least 900mm off every boundary and 1m clear of easements | 3m | Codes SEPP 2008, cl 2.17–2.18 |
| Northern Territory | up to 15m² up to 36m² if supplied and installed by an approved self-certifier | 2.5m | Building Note 114 + self-certification scheme |
| Tasmania | up to 18m² 36m² if a prefab kit | — | Building Act 2016 (CBOS) |
| South Australia | up to 15m² no exemption at all in heritage and historic overlay areas | 2.5m | PDI (General) Regs 2017, Sch 4 |
| Victoria | up to 10m² | 3m (2.4m within 1m of a boundary) | Building Regs 2018, Sch 3 |
| Queensland | up to 10m² not in cyclone regions (Wind Region C — broadly coastal QLD north of Bundaberg) | 2.4m | Building Regulation 2021, Sch 1 |
| Western Australia | up to 10m² freestanding, outside cyclonic wind regions; a separate planning exemption (R-Codes) has its own limits | 2.4m | Building Regs 2012, Sch 4 + R-Codes (Planning Code) |
| ACT | 10m² to 50m² 10m² on blocks under 500m², 25m² from 500 to under 600m², 50m² on blocks of 600m² or more | 3m | Planning (Exempt Dev) Reg 2023, s 1.42 |
In the NT, a garden shed up to 15m² needs no building permit at all, and one up to 36m² can go up without a permit if you use an approved "self-certifier" (a registered business that supplies and installs it).
In TAS, you must notify council upon completion of the shed.
In ACT, sheds exempt from planning may still need building approval through a certifier before work starts.
In QLD, if located in a cyclone region (Wind Region C — broadly coastal QLD north of Bundaberg), all sheds will need building approval.
Thresholds current at the date shown under the title, cited to each state's instrument — always confirm against the current version before you build.
When you do need approval
You will trigger an approval process if the shed is bigger, taller, or closer to a boundary than your state's threshold. Also be mindful of connecting plumbing, electricity, or converting the shed into something you intend to sleep or work in (that reclassifies it as habitable and changes the rules entirely).
The traps
Even a shed under the size limit can need approval:
Overlays. Bushfire-prone land, flood zones, heritage listings and conservation areas can all override exemption. This is the single most common reason your shed may need approval, regardless of size.
Easements and boundaries. A shed over an easement (sewer, drainage, a right of way) can require the relevant authority's consent even when it's otherwise exempt. Boundary setbacks are measured precisely and existing fencing is often not accurately positioned, therefore be careful when placing your shed to ensure you aren't closer than expected to a boundary.
What about everything else on your block?
The thresholds above are public law — they apply the same to everyone in the state. But whether your specific block carries a bushfire overlay, a heritage listing, an easement or a flood constraint is the part that actually decides your answer, and it's different for every address. Struqt reads your zone and every overlay straight from your address and tells you what actually applies, before you commit to costly decisions.
Frequently asked questions
How big can a shed be without council approval?
It depends on your state: up to 20m² in NSW, 15m² in SA and the NT (or 36m² in the NT via an approved self-certifier), 18m² in Tasmania (36m² for a prefab kit), 10m² in Victoria, Queensland and WA, and 10m² to 50m² in the ACT depending on block size. Height caps and siting conditions apply everywhere — see the table above for the rule in your state.
Can I put a shed on the boundary?
Usually not without approval. Most states require a shed to sit clear of the boundary — typically at least 900mm. Boundary setbacks are measured precisely and existing fencing is often not accurately positioned, so be careful when placing your shed to ensure you aren't closer than expected to a boundary.
Do I need approval to run power or plumbing to a shed?
Almost always, yes. Connecting power or plumbing tips most sheds into needing approval, and converting a shed into something you intend to sleep or work in reclassifies it as habitable — which changes the rules entirely.
Why would a small shed still need approval?
Overlays. Bushfire-prone land, flood zones, heritage listings and conservation areas can all override exemption — this is the single most common reason a shed needs approval regardless of size. A shed over an easement (sewer, drainage, a right of way) can also require the relevant authority's consent even when it's otherwise exempt.
What is a Class 10a building?
A Class 10a building is the National Construction Code's term for a non-habitable structure like a shed, carport or garage. Every state's exempt-development thresholds for sheds are written against this class.
Check your address with Struqt
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