Does my shed need a building consent and what will it cost?

Are you wondering if you really need building consent for your next shed project? Is it necessary to spend money on it? And how much will it cost? These are all common questions, yet it is often difficult to get a hold of accurate information and answers, so we’re here to help you out. There are many factors involved in getting a building consent and what makes up the cost. That’s why we thought we’d walk you through this process so you know exactly what is necessary, including the costs, when you embark on your next shed project.

Is it true that some sheds don’t require building consent?

This is true, however, your building must meet the regulations listed below in order to be exempt from requiring building consent:

• The building must be a single-story pole shed or hay barn.
• The building must not exceed 110m² in floor area.
• The building must not exceed 4.0m above the floor level.
• The building floor level must not exceed 1.0m off the supporting ground.
• The building must not exceed an unsupported roof span of 6.0m in any direction.
• The building must be at least its own height away from any residential building, public road, railway, or legal boundary (other district or unitary plan boundary rules are also applicable and may override this).
• The building must not be accessible to the public or used to store hazardous substances.
• The property must be located in a rural area.
• The property must not be in a wind zone that is greater than ‘high’ or have a design wind speed of more than 44.0m/per second. Contact your local council for further advice on wind zones or wind speeds.
• There are no restrictions on what type of materials are used to build a pole shed or hay barn.

The New Zealand Government website has a useful tool to help you work out if you need consent for a shed under 110m².

Do you require building consent if your shed is over 110m²?

You will need building consent if your shed is over 110m². This is something the Alpine Buildings team can easily lodge on your behalf to save you time and eliminate any potential hassles.

A few more things to consider with your shed project’s consent include:

District planning
You want to keep in mind future-proofing your building and property. For example, if it is located in a rural area, you may want to enquire with your district council to ensure there are no upcoming developments in the area that may change it to a residential or commercial area.

Change of use
You also need to be certain you are not planning to change the use of your shed. A pole shed or hay barn for rural storage use must not be converted to another type of use without notifying the council of the proposed change.

Stormwater
You need to consider the building code requirements regarding the disposal of stormwater from the roof of your building - you will need to get guidance from a professional and approval from your council.

Design/engineer
Even if your building does not require building consent, you must have a CPEng (Chartered Professional Engineer) to sign off the design (in which case anyone can build it), or you need to get an LBP (Licensed Building Practitioner) to design/build it.

Property value
Having a building consent, even when not required, can be beneficial as it ensures your property/building is future-proofed for any district developments (as mentioned above), but it also can add value to your property.

How much does a building consent cost?

The cost of a building consent can vary from $1,000 to $5,000+, depending on the size and complexity of the project. It is made up of a range of things and can differ dramatically between councils, however, it usually contains the following breakdown:

• Base processing fee, deposit, or fixed fee (these vary a lot between councils).
• Processing costs - based on an hourly rate.
• Inspection costs.
• BRANZ levy - $1 per $1,000 value of work.
• MBIE levy - $1.75 per $1,000 value of work.
• Development contribution fees sometimes apply, especially for commercial/industrial projects.
• Code of compliance certificate processing cost.
• Other building consent fees:
• Technical fees (varies between levels of technicality).
• Administration fees.
• Pre-application fire engineering meeting.
• Amendment fees.

Here at Alpine Buildings, we specialise in sheds over 200m². With a clearspan steel rafter system that is engineered for the larger spans, such as 12m,15m, 18m, and 20m, we find this is where our designs are most efficient in the marketplace. This also means that all of our projects require building consent. This is why we have an in-house consent team that handles these and works alongside your local council to make the process as easy as possible for you.

Our consent team are more than happy to answer any queries you may have with your project at any stage. Simply contact us if you wish to get some expert consenting advice. Otherwise, feel free to download our full product range brochure to gain some inspiration for your future shed project!