Shed Approvals and Applications
Shed Town Planners
Thinking of Building a Shed in Scenic Rim?
Large sheds, machinery sheds and rural outbuildings are common throughout the Scenic Rim.
The mistake is assuming that because you own a large rural or acreage property, you can simply choose a location and build.
Whether your shed needs planning approval depends on the zoning, proposed use, floor area, height, setbacks, road access and any overlays affecting the property.
A planning check before ordering the shed can save you from redesigning it later.
What Type of Shed Are You Building?
The first question is how the shed will actually be used.
Different planning rules can apply to:
- Domestic garages and storage sheds
- Large acreage sheds
- Machinery and equipment sheds
- Farm sheds
- Barns
- Workshops
- Sheds associated with a rural business
- Commercial or industrial sheds
A domestic shed associated with your home is assessed differently from a shed supporting farming, commercial activities or another land use.
Domestic Shed or Rural Shed?
A domestic shed used for vehicles, storage or personal equipment is assessed differently from a shed used for farming, machinery, commercial activities or a home-based business.
The actual use matters.
Common Planning Issues
We regularly see issues with:
- Oversized sheds
- Reduced boundary setbacks
- Large sheds on acreage
- Sheds on vacant land
- Farm and machinery sheds
- Workshops
- Bushfire and flood constraints
- Steep land
Do Rural Sheds Need Council Approval?
Some domestic sheds can proceed without a Development Application where they satisfy the Scenic Rim Planning Scheme requirements.
Problems commonly arise where the shed:
- Exceeds the permitted floor area
- Is too close to a boundary or road
- Is taller than the planning scheme allows
- Has a mezzanine or additional storey
- Is proposed on a vacant property
- Does not have suitable road access
- Is intended for business or commercial activities
- Is affected by bushfire, flooding, slope or environmental overlays
For domestic outbuildings in residential zones, Council’s planning scheme also places limits on the combined floor area of sheds based on the size of the lot. Different provisions apply in Rural and Rural Residential areas. Scenic Rim Regional Council
Rural and Rural Residential Setbacks
Setbacks are one of the more common issues we see with sheds.
Under Council’s Dwelling House Code, the standard street setback for a dwelling house and associated domestic structures is generally 10 metres in the Rural Residential and Rural zones. The Rural Zone also generally applies a 6 metre side and rear boundary setback under the acceptable outcome. Scenic Rim Regional Council
If your shed cannot meet these requirements, that does not automatically mean it cannot be approved. It can mean that a planning assessment is required to justify the proposed location.
We can:
- Check whether planning approval is required
- Review shed siting and setbacks
- Assess zoning and overlays
- Advise on domestic versus rural use
- Prepare Development Applications
- Coordinate with your surveyor, designer and certifier
If you are planning a shed in the Scenic Rim, send us the property address, shed dimensions and intended use and we can review the likely planning pathway.
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