A Guide to Brisbane City Council Shed Building Requirements
You’ve decided to build a shed on your property in Brisbane. Well done! It’s a fantastic way to add value and upgrade your lifestyle to one of more space and convenience.
There are many technicalities that go into getting your shed off the ground, and you need to take them into account before commencing shed construction. A big one is council approval and making sure you’re on the right side of Brisbane City Council requirements.
These can be tricky to get your head around, so if you’re building with Stockman Sheds we are always there to help you take care of this side of things. To give you an idea of what Brisbane City Council expects, we’ve put together this easy to understand guide.
Please be aware these guidelines are for a shed on the same lot as a residential use property, ie a shed you’d like to build in your backyard. For agricultural shed structures or industrial style sheds, Council will be able to provide guidance.
As always, if you have questions one of our shed building experts will be happy to answer them for you.
1. Do I Need Approval for My Shed?
The first question to be asked is whether you need building approval or not. In Queensland and certainly in Brisbane, most bigger sheds will need building approval. There are exceptions for smaller sheds. To avoid confusion, here are the criteria that determine whether you need building approval:
Larger than 10m2 in area
More than 2.4 metres in height (with an average mean height of no more than 2.1 metres)
Longer than five metres on any side
Won’t affect the structural integrity of existing buildings, retaining walls or other structures on your property or an adjoining property
Won’t affect an existing pool enclosure or pool fence.
If your shed ticks any of the above boxes, you’re going to need to lodge a building approval application, and a professional certifier will come out and make an assessment.
If your property is in a character or heritage overlay area, additional rules may apply, so be sure to check with the council.
2. Building Codes and Standards
Your custom Brisbane shed needs to be built in compliance with the applicable set of building codes and standards. Not only does this ensure legal compliance, but it means you’ll have a solid structure built for longevity.
The following codes need to be adhered to when building a shed in Brisbane:
The Building Act 1975, chapters three and four
Any local law or local planning instrument the Building Act 1975 allows to apply to the assessment
The Queensland Development Code
The Building Code of Australia.
Enlisting an experienced shed builder means they will take care of all compliance legalities in the construction process. That means a stress-free journey to shed ownership for you!
3. Boundary Rules
You want to ensure your shed is positioned with the right setbacks from your property boundaries. The setback is the legal amount of space that you need to leave vacant between your structure and the boundary of your land.
In Queensland, setbacks are 1.5 metres from the side and rear boundaries, and 6 metres from the road boundary. There are some exemptions to this if your shed is less than 9 metres long and 3.5 metres high. We’ll be able to tell you more when we get the shed building process underway.
Another thing to bear in mind is there are certain restrictions when it comes to building near council infrastructure.
4. Relevant Overlay Codes
Bushfire Overlay:
- If the dwelling was built before 2009 the structure will not require bushfire protection
- Dwelling built after 2009: Structure must be located a minimum of 6m from the dwelling OR the shed will require the same fire protection/BAL rating as dwelling.
Flood Hazard Overlay
- Building work within the Brisbane River Flood Planning area 1, 2a or 2b sub-categories or the Creek/waterway flood planning area 1 or 2 sub-categories will require a DBW council application. - No minimum floor level requirements for detached garages, sheds etc. - Enclosed structures are not to be constructed within overland flow path
Traditional Building Character overlay
- Carport, sheds, garages etc are exempt where located at the rear of the building. Otherwise, a DBW application will be required.
Landslide
- Excavation exceeding 50m3 will typically require a geotechnical assessment – Contact Stockman Sheds for advice where required.
Significant landscape tree overlay
- Contact Stockman Sheds for advice where within Significant Tree Overlay.
Waterway corridors overlay
- Contact Stockman Sheds for advice when within Waterway Corridor.
- Ensure Fire separation is achieved from either boundary and/or dwelling
Ask The Shed Building Experts
If you’re determined to DIY your shed, please take the above information as a guide, but be sure to get in touch with Brisbane City Council for more information.
If you’d like a stress-free shed build, why not consult with the best professional custom shed builders in Brisbane? Not only will Stockman Sheds guide you through the best placement and the best type of shed, we’ll ensure it’s built to an exceptionally high standard using COLORBOND® Steel. You’ll get decades of dependability from a Stockman Shed, plus a no-hassle building experience! You won’t have to stress about council restrictions, because we’ll do all the worrying for you!
Let’s talk today about your shed aspirations and how we can help.
