Sheds, Carports, Pergolas and Verandahs

You will need to apply for a building permit if you are constructing a shed, carport or garage that: 

• is attached to a building; or
• has a floor area of over 10 square metres; or
• is over 3 metres in height; or
• if situated within 1 metre of the boundary, is over 2.4 metres in height; or
• is constructed of masonry; or
• is located any further forward on the allotment than the front wall of the building to which it is appurtenant (i.e. is used by the occupants of, or is ancillary to, that building)

If you are constructing a shed, carport or garage on an allotment where there are no other buildings on the allotment, or the only buildings on the allotment are Class 10a buildings (e.g. private garage, carport or shed), please contact the building department on (03) 5422 0333.

If you are building over an easement or within 1 metre of a council easement, you will need to complete a Build Over Easement/Asset (DOCX, 1MB)application form(DOCX, 1MB) / application form(PDF, 226KB).

A pergola is an open structure that is unroofed but may have a covering of open weave permeable material (i.e. water is able to pass through it).

You will need to apply for a building permit if you are constructing a pergola that:

• has a floor area of over 20 square metres; or
• is over 3.6 metres in height; or
• is located further than 2.5 metres past the front wall of your house; or
• in any other case, is located any further forward on the allotment than the front wall of the building to which it is appurtenant (i.e. is used by the occupants of, or is ancillary to, that building)

If you are building over an easement or within 1 metre of a council easement, you will need to complete a Build Over Easement/Asset (DOCX, 1MB)application form(DOCX, 1MB) / application form(PDF, 226KB).

Note: a planning permit may be required even if a building permit is not. 

A verandah is a roofed structure that is typically attached to a house.

You must apply for a building permit to construct a verandah.