This article is written for Queensland residents…

If your garden shed has a – 

  • Plan area greater than 10m2 including any eaves and overhangs; or
  • Has a maximum height at any point above the natural ground surface greater than 2.4m; or
  • Has an average maximum height above the natural ground surface greater than 2.1m; or
  • Any side greater than 5m in length

… then a Building Approval is required.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to trigger a Building Approval. 

If you require a Building Approval for your shed, please be aware that the same rigorous assessment applying to large sheds also applies to small sheds. If you have recently bought a small shed that requires a Building Approval, don’t be surprised if the costs associated with obtaining a Building Approval (i.e. structural drawings, soil report, certification fee, Council fees, etc) exceed the cost of the shed itself. I say this because many people who call in to inquire about getting a Building Approval for their small shed are truly surprised by the amount of regulation that is involved.

At the end of the day, the aim is to show your building certifier that you have a documented design that demonstrates compliance with town planning codes and building codes. Sounds easy enough, but, as always the devil is in the details. a good draftsman and structural engineer are worth there weight in gold.

If you would like to know if your shed design complies with the relevant town planning and building code laws, please feel free to call Agile Approvals for advice and assistance.