Sheds & Garages rules in New South Wales (2026)
A detached shed or garage can be built with no council approval as 'exempt development' if it stays within the size, height and setback limits in the Codes SEPP. Go over them and you'll need a fast-track Complying Development Certificate (CDC) or a full development application (DA).
Often no approval needed within the exempt limits
A detached shed or garage can be built with no council approval as 'exempt development' if it stays within the size, height and setback limits in the Codes SEPP. Go over them and you'll need a fast-track Complying Development Certificate (CDC) or a full development application (DA).
Key rules at a glance
| Max floor area (no approval) | 20 m² in residential and most zones; 50 m² in rural zones (RU1–RU4, RU6, R5) |
| Max height | 3 m to top of roof (up to 4 m if under a 30° plane projected from 3 m at the boundary) |
| Setback from boundary | ≥900 mm in residential zones; ≥5 m from every boundary in rural zones |
| Position on lot | Behind the building line to any road frontage (non-rural zones) |
| Construction | Detached, single storey, non-habitable; metal cladding of low-reflective material |
| Larger or non-complying sheds | Go through a CDC or a DA |
Conditions & eligibility
- Not permitted on a heritage item or draft heritage item, or in a foreshore or environmentally sensitive area
- Must not reduce the lot's landscaped area or drainage below the requirements in the planning controls
- Roofwater must be disposed of without causing a nuisance to neighbours
- On bush-fire-prone land, additional construction standards apply
- Must be single storey and not attached to another building
Heritage, flood and bushfire controls on your specific lot can remove the fast-track and require a full application — even when the general rules say you're fine.
How approval works in New South Wales
Three tiers. Exempt development (no approval) for small sheds that meet every standard in the Codes SEPP; a Complying Development Certificate (CDC), which is certifier sign-off rather than a DA, for larger compliant sheds; or a full DA to council if the shed fails a standard or the site is constrained by heritage, flood, bushfire or foreshore controls.
Rural-zoned land gets a much larger exempt allowance (50 m² vs 20 m²) but a 5 m boundary setback, so check your Local Environmental Plan zone before you build.
Sheds & Garages rules by council in New South Wales
Local councils apply the New South Wales framework and can add their own controls. Pick your council:
Frequently asked questions
How big a shed can I build in NSW without council approval?
Up to 20 m² floor area in residential and most other zones, or up to 50 m² in rural zones (RU1–RU4, RU6, R5), provided it's no higher than 3 m, behind the building line and meets the boundary setbacks. Anything larger needs a CDC or DA.
How close to the boundary can a shed be in NSW?
In residential zones an exempt shed must sit at least 900 mm from side and rear boundaries; in rural zones it must be at least 5 m from every boundary.
Do I need approval for a shed on bushfire or heritage land?
The exempt pathway doesn't apply if your lot is a heritage item or in a foreshore or environmentally sensitive area, and bush-fire-prone land adds construction requirements, so you'll usually need a CDC or DA in those cases.
Sources
- State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 — NSW legislation ↗
- Exempt development — NSW Planning Portal ↗
Related building rules
This is general guidance, not professional planning advice. Figures are summarised from the sources above and can change — confirm with your council or the NSW Planning Portal before starting work. Last reviewed: July 2026.
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