Whenever you want to build or add to your property, it always seems there is a minefield of what you can or can’t do with regard to council regulations.
A great place to find out about rules and regulations is by talking to your local council or alternatively you can get most answers by going online to places such as the Ministry of Business and Innovation. https://www.building.govt.nz
Many property owners will want to have some form of shed, craft room, potting shed or sleep out and often wonder what the rules and regulations are with regard to size, height and position. Also can power be installed and is it ok to use as a sleep out?
The Ministry of Business and Innovation has very detailed examples of what you can and can’t do with regards to building work on your property. Some of these listed below directly relate to questions asked in regard to purchasing or building a wooden shed/cabin of your own.
1. General repair, maintenance and replacement.
Comparable materials and assembly are to be used; also replacement should be in the same position as the original.
2. Territorial and regional authority discretionary exemption.
Check with your local council on this as some council have the discretion to exempt quite detailed structures.
3. Single story detached buildings not exceeding 30m2
A 9 square metre sleepout is constructed in the backyard of a residential dwelling. It is more than its own height away from all boundaries and the associated residential dwelling, and does not contain cooking or sanitary
facilities, or a potable water supply.
Owners of a childcare centre intend to build a 10 square metres detached building to serve as a staff retreat area. The proposed building will be more than its own height away from the boundaries. It contains no potable water supply and no facilities for cooking or sanitation.
Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004
Single-storey detached buildings not exceeding 10 square metres in floor area
1. Building work in connection with any detached building that:
(a). is not more than 1 storey (being a floor level of up to 1 metre above the supporting ground and a height of up to 3.5 metres above the floor
level); and
(b). does not exceed 10 square metres in floor area; and
(c). does not contain sanitary facilities or facilities for the storage of potable water; and
(d). does not include sleeping accommodation, unless the building is used in connection with a dwelling and does not contain any cooking facilities.
2. However, subclause (1) does not include building work in connection with a building that is closer than the measure of its own height to any residential building or to any legal boundary.
1. The owners of a commercial property intend to construct a 30 square metre detached building to serve as a garage. The proposed building will be more than its own height away from the boundaries and it contains no potable water supply and no facilities for cooking or sanitation. The owners want to buy a pre-engineered kitset from a proprietary product supplier or manufacturer which has been signed off by a chartered professional engineer for design. The kitset is then installed by the property owner in accordance with the instruction manual.
2. A 25 square metre sleepout is constructed in the backyard of a residential dwelling. It is more than its own height away from all boundaries and the associated residential dwelling, and does not contain cooking or sanitary facilities, or a potable water supply. Plans and specifications associated with the kitsets and prefabs are signed off by a chartered professional engineer. Subsequently, the work is carried out in accordance with that design.
Single-storey detached buildings exceeding 10, but not exceeding 30, square metres in floor area (where kitset or prefabricated)
1. Building work in connection with any detached building if—
(a). the building is a kitset or prefabricated building, and the product manufacturer or supplier has complied with subclause (3); and
(b). the building work is carried out in accordance with the design referred to in subclause (3); and
(c). the building—
(i). is not more than 1 storey (being a floor level of up to 1 metre above the supporting ground and a height of up to 3.5 metres above the floor level); and
(ii). exceeds 10 square metres in floor area, but does not exceed 30 square metres; and
(iii). does not contain sanitary facilities or facilities for the storage of potable water; and
(iv). does not include sleeping accommodation, unless the building is used in connection with a dwelling and does not contain any cooking facilities; and
(v). if it includes sleeping accommodation, has smoke alarms installed.
2. However, subclause (1) does not include building work in connection with a building that is closer than the measure of its own height to any residential building or to any legal boundary.
3. The product manufacturer or supplier (as defined in section 14G) must have had the design of the building carried out or reviewed by a chartered professional engineer.
4. Unoccupied detached buildings.
This could be a construction site office.
Make sure you always check that there are no planning requirements for your area (for example daylight planes, and how far you need to be from boundaries. Also sometimes you have rules for maximum coverage of an area).
5. Tents, marquees and similar lightweight structures.
“Building work in connection with any tent or marquee, or any similar lightweight structure (for example, a stall, booth, or compartment used at fairs, exhibitions,
or markets) that: (a) does not exceed 100 square metres in floor area; and (b)is to be, or has been, used for a period of not more than 1 month.” (Building Act 2004: Schedule 4).
This can be for events in a public area such as a school gala or a private function like a wedding.
6. Pergolas
These are simple framed structures that have no roof. You can attach to the side of a building, or have freestanding. There is no limit to the size, but it must not be roofed.
If you decide at a later date to put a roof on your structure and it is greater than 20 square metres, you will need to obtain council approval.
7. Repair or replacement of an outbuilding
Buildings that are not going to be lived in such as garages, sheds, farm buildings and potting sheds, can be repaired or replaced. But must not be a public building and can only be a single story.
Another question people frequently ask is what is required when they wish to connect power to their sleep out or craft room. The General rule is to have it done by a professional Electrician to avoid problems that could potentially be fatal.
Just remember it is always best to ask your local council if you are not sure, after all that is what they are there for. It is always a good idea to do the job correctly the first time rather than having a potentially costly mistake you need to fix at a later date.
Wanting to buy your own shed?….View our Sheds here.
Disclaimer:
This is written to the best knowledge and research of the writer. SheShed and Homelandz take no responsibility for misguided, misused information. This is correct at the date written and it is instructed that all purchasers of sheds do their own investigation to what consents apply in their local council.
