Consent rules to be relaxed for sheds, sleep-outs and garages

The Government has announced plans to ease building consent rules for single storey detached buildings, such as garden sheds, sleepouts and garages, to help homeowners use their land more efficiently and reduce consenting costs. 

Previously, single storey detached buildings had to be set back from property boundaries or other buildings by at least their own height, or they required a consent.  

“Section sizes are shrinking and the cost of living is rising. Forcing people to put sheds in the middle of their lawn or pay for a consent to store tools doesn’t make sense,” said Minister for Regulation David Seymour. 

New rules will remove setback barriers 

• Single-storey buildings under 10m² will be allowed to be built right up to the boundary or another building without requiring a consent. 

• Buildings between 10m² and 30m² will be allowed to be constructed with only a 1m setback from boundaries or other buildings. 

Buildings that include bathroom or cooking facilities, or a potable water supply, cannot be built using these exemptions. A building consent is required. 

Additionally, the structure’s walls and roof must be constructed using only lightweight materials, such as light timber or steel framing and cladding. All structural components must be designed and built to comply with the Building Code. 

For sheds or garages sized between 10m² and 30m², the exemption still requires work to be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) in line with existing guidance. 

These changes are scheduled to take effect by the end of 2025.  

Red Tape Tipline driven reforms 

The reforms follow public submissions through the Government’s Red Tape Tipline, which expressed frustration at the existing setback regulations for single-storey detached buildings. 

The tipline, launched by the Ministry of Regulation, is designed to identify and eliminate unnecessary regulatory hurdles. 

“We’re acting on the tips we get through the Red Tape Tipline by removing regulation and making it easier for Kiwis to get things done,” said Seymour. 

The initiative forms part of the coalition Government’s broader agenda to ease compliance costs in the building sector with Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk stating: 

“This Government is relentlessly focused on making it easier and more affordable to build.”