City of Gold Coast Shed Building Rules Guide
As well as being an awesome place to call home, the Gold Coast is a hive of development and growth. If you're a Goldie dweller and want to build a shed on your property, you have to be on the right side of the City of Gold Coast shed building regulations. You don’t want to be putting up an illegal structure, and you don’t want any issues with council, particularly when it comes time to sell.
We’ve put together a Gold Coast shed building rules guide here to provide an overview of what you need to think about. It can be overwhelming to determine whether you need building approval or what other rules you need to think about. If you have decided to build your shed yourself, we’d also recommend calling the City of Gold Coast to chat about your plans.
If you get Stockman Sheds to build your custom shed, we handle all the council permits and approvals. It’s an easy and stress-free shed-building journey, where all you have to do is help us plan and design your dream shed! Our team is waiting in the wings to help, so get in touch today.
1. Do I Need Building Approval for My Gold Coast Shed?
The way to approach this is to assume you need building approval unless you’re building a really small garden shed. Anything else and you’re going to need to get building approval from the City of Gold Coast. If the following points apply, you’ll need approval:
The area of your shed is larger than 10m2
The overall height is more than 2.4-metres (or has a mean height of more than 2.1-metres)
Any side is longer than 5-metres
It’s not a standalone structure, i.e. it's attached to another building (think garages and carports)
It’s over a sewer or stormwater
It’s in a road setback or waterfront area
It’s on common property without consent.
It’s not to say you can’t build your shed if any of the above apply. You’ll just need to go through the building approval process to get the green light to proceed.
2. Setback for Gold Coast Sheds
If you’ve been involved in any kind of building over the years you’ll be familiar with a boundary setback. This is the minimum distance a structure (in this case a shed) can be from the property boundary. Different setback distances apply depending on the zoning of your home.
If you’re in a low density residential area with a plot less than 450m2, the following apply:
Six metre setback from front boundary with one metre from wall or balcony
One metre rear setback, or 3.5-metres if on a rear lot.
Maximum shed height of 3.5-metres.
If you’re in low density residential and your plot is larger than 450m2, the six metre front setback still applies. The rear boundary depends on the size of the shed, give us a shout and we’ll tell you the specifics.
If you’re zoned as rural residential, your front setback needs to be a minimum of six metres and your side and rear setbacks at least three metres.
3. Building Codes and Standards for Gold Coast Sheds
Sinking your hard earned cash into your Gold Coast shed is a big investment, so you want to be sure you’re getting a product thats worth it. The Gold Coast weather can be tough for a shed, so you need one tough enough to withstand it!
Luckily in Australia we have a number of building codes and laws in place to ensure all structures meet an exacting high standard.
They include:
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.
At Stockman Sheds, we know these laws inside out. When we build your Gold Coast Shed, rest assured its going to meet all the necessary regulations and codes. You’ll enjoy a tough, well-built and resilient shed that’ll last you for decades to come.
4. Amenity and Ethics Application
If your proposed shed is very large or tall with regards to the size of your block of land, you may need to make an Amenity and Ethics Application. The criteria is the floor area of your shed (or combined floor area of multiple sheds if more than one is on a property). Sheds with a mean height of more than 3.5-metres above the ground level will also require an application. The graphic to the left, courtesy of the City of Gold Coast, provides an idea of the block size in relation to shed floor area that requires an application.
The Gold Coast Shed Builders
Stockman Sheds has a manufacturing plant in Toowoomba, in which we create high-quality Aussie sheds. Our shed-building teams cover the whole of southeast Queensland, including the entire Gold Coast and its hinterland.
If you live on the Goldie and you want an easy shed-building experience resulting in an exceptional shed, we’re here to help! Remember, we take care of all the shed building requirements for you, including building approvals and sticking to all the building codes. Get in touch below!
