WA Shed Council Approval Information
Many customers are concerned about adding sheds and workshops ( let along garages) to their properties incase the council regulations are opposed to it.
Some customers are not even aware that you need council approval when adding some buildings to your home.
The idea of working out if you need council approval or not and how to go about it if you do is daunting.
We understand this, and if we could do the paperwork for you we would! But unfortunately we can but the GOOD NEWS is we can help you on your way. On this page i have provided some vital information for you to understand if you need council approval or not and how to go about it.
THE NUMBER #1 THING TO UNDERSTAND
Every councils rules and regulations are different, so there is no one rule fits all in WA. It is best to always contact your council directly and ask them what their regulations are regarding sheds, workshops and garages.
Even after reading this page we suggest you give them a call to be safe. We have provided a list of councils below.
SIZE RESTRAINTS IN WA
So a good start is knowing how big does your building need to be before it is required to have paper work submitted and council approval.
In Western Australia the common regulation is 10 square metres. Anything larger than 10 sqm may require a permit and if it’s under 10 sqm, you may not need one. However, it's worth checking with your local council directly to be safe rather than sorry. As mentioned each one can have different rules. This measurement is the general rule.
DO I NEED A BUILDING LICENCE?
No, unless your building falls under a different Class or requirements ( if you are building a Class a BuildIng or the size exceeds a certain size).
Generally you will need approval for workshops, garage and carports but you do not need a licence to build them. There are some guidelines you will need to follow.
- The shed must be placed behind the front setback line. It is also not allowed to interfere with any vehicular sight lines.
- It must it comply with Building Code of Australia fire safety requirements, which means it is at least 900 mm away from any other structure on the property
- The shed must be built from quality materials in a structurally sound manner and
- it must be anchored to the ground to prevent the wind from turning it into a missile.
For a shed to be small enough, it can be no taller than 2.4 metres above the natural level of the ground. The floor or deck may not be more than 500 mm above the natural level of the ground.
The shed cannot be located in a conservation precinct.
TALK TO ALL PARTIES INVOLVED
Too often you hear stories of people having to pull down sheds or structures in their backyards because their neighbour complained to the council.
Avoid this drama and waste of money by talking to your council and your neighbour, especially if your shed or building may be inview of the neighbour, block some view or sunlight from their home.
WHAT PAPERS DO I SUBMIT
If you do need council approval you will need to check again with your council what it is you will need but here are some items to expect:
- Detailed site plan
- Engineer Papers ( which we will provide with your shed/workshop/garage)
- Building Licence for very big buildings for example most of our custom sheds which are more thans 6 x 12 meters.
