Thinking about adding a new shed to the property? Before deciding on the colour, roller doors and what’s going inside, there’s one slightly less exciting question worth answering first.
Do you need building consent for a shed in New Zealand?
The short answer is: not always.
Some sheds, garages and other single-storey detached buildings can be built without building consent in New Zealand, provided they meet the requirements of the relevant exemption.
The rules depend on things like the size and height of the building, where it sits on your property, how it’s constructed and what you plan to use it for.
For the full requirements, you can refer to the official Building Performance guidance for detached standalone buildings.
So, before you start planning the new home for the boat, tools, tractor or everything that mysteriously no longer fits in the garage, here are a few things worth knowing.
How big can a shed be without building consent in NZ?
This is where it gets a little more interesting.
New Zealand has several building consent exemptions for single-storey detached buildings. These cover buildings of up to 10m², as well as certain buildings over 10m² and up to 30m², provided the relevant requirements are met.
For buildings between 10m² and 30m², there are different pathways depending on how the shed is designed and constructed.
For example, certain lightweight buildings can qualify for an exemption if they meet the applicable Building Code requirements. A prefabricated or kitset building of this size can also qualify where its design has been carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer. Another exemption applies where the design or construction is carried out or supervised by an appropriately licensed professional.
You can read the specific requirements in the official Building Performance guidance for detached buildings between 10m² and 30m².
In other words, 30m² isn’t simply a blanket “no consent required” rule.
How your shed is designed and built still matters.
How close can I build a shed to my boundary?
This is one area where the rules have changed.
For relevant exemptions covering single-storey detached buildings between 10m² and 30m², the building generally needs to be at least 1 metre from a legal boundary or residential building.
For smaller detached buildings of up to 10m², different exemption requirements apply.
That can give property owners more flexibility when deciding where a shed should sit, but building consent is only part of the picture.
Your local District Plan and other requirements can still affect what and where you can build, so it’s worth checking these before getting too attached to a particular spot on the property.
Building Performance provides additional guidance on location, boundary and other requirements for single-storey detached buildings.
Does a consent-exempt shed still need to meet the Building Code?
Yes.
This is an important distinction. Not needing building consent doesn’t mean you can simply build whatever you like.
Building work that is exempt from building consent still needs to comply with the relevant requirements of the New Zealand Building Code.
That’s one of the reasons it’s worth getting the design right from the beginning.
What about plumbing, bathrooms or kitchens?
This can change things considerably.
The exemptions for detached buildings have restrictions around sanitary facilities, potable water and cooking facilities. Adding things such as a bathroom or kitchen can mean building consent is required, even if the building itself falls within the relevant size range.
So if your plans extend beyond somewhere to store the boat, tools or machinery, make sure the intended use is considered from the start.
Do garages need building consent in NZ?
Garages can potentially fall under the same detached-building exemptions.
Official Building Performance guidance gives examples of detached garages between 10m² and 30m² that can be constructed without building consent where the relevant exemption requirements are satisfied.
You can see the official guidance and examples for prefabricated and kitset detached buildings up to 30m².
Again, size alone doesn’t determine whether your garage is exempt. Its construction, location, height, facilities and other requirements need to be considered too.
What about farm sheds?
Farm sheds can be a slightly different story.
There are specific building consent exemptions for certain single-storey pole sheds and hay barns in rural zones, with professional involvement required depending on the exemption being used. These also have their own requirements around things such as location and setbacks.
If you’re planning a larger machinery shed, implement shed or other rural building, it’s worth discussing the specific project rather than assuming the rules for a small residential shed apply.
The relevant exemptions can be found within Building Performance’s official detached standalone building guidance.
What should I check before building a shed?
Before you get too far into the design, it helps to have a few basics sorted.
Think about what the shed will actually be used for, how large it needs to be, where it will sit on the property, access for vehicles or machinery, whether you might need plumbing or other services, and how your needs could change in the future.
Then you can establish which consent, planning and Building Code requirements apply to your particular project.
It’s much easier to work those things out while your shed is still a plan than once there’s steel going up.
Start designing your KiwiSpan Shed.
Once you’ve got an idea of what you need, you can start bringing it to life with our 3D Shed Designer, or have a chat with your local KiwiSpan team about your site and what you’re planning to build.
Whether it’s a garage, lifestyle shed, workshop, farm shed or something with enough room for a fairly ambitious collection of toys, we’ll help you design a KiwiSpan around the way you’ll actually use it.
