Tag: Approval requirements

Carport – approval requirements

The Residential Design Codes (R-Codes) define a carport as:

“A roofed structure designed to accommodate one or more motor vehicles, unenclosed except to the extent that it abuts a dwelling or a property boundary on one side, and being without a door unless that door is visually permeable (see through).”

A carport may require a development approval and will require a building permit prior to being constructed.

Planning requirements

On a residential lot, carports will require development (planning) application where it does not meet the requirements of the R-Codes, the City’s Residential Development Local Planning Policy (RDLPP), Development in Housing Opportunity Areas Local Planning Policy (HOALPP), or structure plan (if applicable).

Generally, for a single house or grouped dwelling a development (planning) application is not required for your carport if it complies with the following:

  • Setback the minimum distance from the street boundary for your R-Code density (see table below).
  • Setback the minimum distance from the side boundary for your R-Code density (see table below).
  • The design allows unobstructed views between the dwelling and the street.
  • Where new hardstand areas (e.g. driveway) are being built, 50% of the street setback area is landscaped.

Additional requirements may apply if:

  • For higher dual-density properties, the carport is being built over landscaping or removing trees.
  • The property is within a structure plan area.
  • A new driveway and/or crossover is being constructed, or an existing one modified. In addition to planning requirements, crossovers are required to be constructed in accordance with the City’s Crossover Guidelines.
R-Code Density Minimum Open Space Minimum Carport Street Setback Minimum Side or Rear Setback** Maximum Driveway Width (at the street boundary)
R20 50% Street the house faces: 3m with all buildings having an average street setback of 6m

Other streets (corner property): 1.5m

The carport is required to match the dwelling in respect to materials, roof design, roof pitch and colour and no wider than 60% of the property frontage

 Length 10-14m: 1m

Length more than 14m: 1.5m

The total length includes the length of the carport and any attached structures.

 6m

or

Where two driveways are proposed, a total width of 9m
R20/25* 50% 5.5m 1m 4.5m
R20/30* 45%
R20/40* 45%
R20/60* 40%
*For properties with a dual-density code (e.g. R20/40) the requirements only apply if the property is developed at the higher density (e.g. R40). If your property has not been built to the higher density, refer to R20 requiremenst.

**A boundary wall (where the wall is setback closer than 600mm to a side or rear boundary) may be permitted where it is behind the street setback and meets the length and height requirements of the R-Codes, RDLPP or HOALPP (as applicable).

Carports to multiple dwellings and commercial buildings will require development (planning) approval.

Fees are in accordance with the Planning Services Fees and Charges.

Building permit requirements

A building permit application will be required for a carport.

Building permit application forms (certified or uncertified) are available from the Building Commission.

Certified building permit applications must be accompanied with a Certificate of Design Compliance.

Please refer to the City’s Uncertified Building Application Checklist – Outbuilding (Class 10a) for information required to be provided with the Building Permit Application (BA2 form).

Fees are in accordance with the Building Services Fees and Charges.

Outbuilding (shed) – approval requirements

The Residential Design Codes (R-Codes) define an outbuilding as: ‘An enclosed non-habitable structure that is detached from any dwelling.’

This definition includes sheds and garages that are not attached to the main dwelling.

An outbuilding may require a development (planning) approval and a building permit prior to being constructed.

Planning requirements

Outbuildings on a residential property will require a development (planning) application where it does not meet the requirements of the R-Codes, the City’s Residential Development Local Planning Policy (RDLPP), Development in Housing Opportunity Areas Local Planning Policy (HOALPP), or structure plan (if applicable).

Generally, for a single house or grouped dwelling a development (planning) approval is not required for your outbuilding if it complies with the following:

  • For small outbuildings (less than 10m²):
    • Has no more than two boundary walls (a ‘boundary wall’ is where the wall is setback closer than 600mm from a boundary).
    • Is not located within the street setback required for your R-Code density (see table below).
    • The wall and roof ridge height does not exceed 2.7m from natural ground level.
    • Does not reduce open space and outdoor living area requirements for your R-Code density (see table below).
  • For large outbuildings (greater than 10m²) or multiple outbuildings (two or more outbuildings wher the combined size is greater than 10m²):
    • The area of all outbuildings does not exceed 60m² or 10% in aggregate of the site area, whichever is the lesser.
    • Setback from a side and/or rear property boundary a minimum of 1m where the length is no more than 14m, otherwise 1.5m . A boundary wall (where the wall is setback closer than 600mm from a boundary) may be considered where it meets the requirements of the R-Codes, RDLPP or HOALPP (as applicable).
    • Does not exceed a wall height of 2.4m and a roof ridge height or 4.2m from natural ground level.
    • Is not located within the street setback required for your R-Code density (see table below).
    • Does not reduce open space and outdoor living area requirements for your R-Code density (see table below).
    • All other requirements of the R-Codes, RDLPP and/or HOALPP are met (as applicable).

Additional requirements may apply if:

  • The outbuilding is visible from the street. In these instances, the outbuilding is required to be a consistent style with the existing house, and compatible with the area.
  • For higher dual-density properties, the outbuilding is reducing the landscaping area for the property to less than 20% of the site area or removing trees.
  • The property is within a structure plan area.

All outbuildings to multiple dwellings, commercial developments or caravan parks will require a development (planning) application.

R-Code Density Minimum Outdoor Living Area Minimum Open Space Minimum street setback
R20 30m² 50% Street the house faces: 6m

Other streets (corner property): 1.5m
R20/25* 30m² 50% Street the house faces: 4m

Other streets (corner property): 2m
R20/30* 24m² 45% Street the house faces: 4m

Other streets (corner property): 2m
R20/40* 20m² 45% Street the house faces: 4m

Other streets (corner property): 2m
R20/60* 16m² 40% Street the house faces: 2m

Other streets (corner property): 2m

*For properties with a dual-density code (e.g. R20/40) the requirements only apply if the property is developed at the higher density (e.g. R40). If your property has not been built to the higher density, refer to R20 requirements.

Building Permit requirements

A building permit is required when the outbuilding is built from masonry.

A building permit is not required when the outbuilding complies with all of the following:

  • The structure is freestanding.
  • The structure is no more than 10m².
  • The structure is no more than 2.4m in height.
  • The structure is installed as per the manufacturer recommendations.

Building permit application forms (certified or uncertified) are available from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety website. Certified building permit applications must be accompanied with a Certificate of Design Compliance.

Please refer to the City’s Uncertified Building Application Checklist – Outbuilding (Class 10a) for information required to be provided with the Building Permit Application (BA2 form).

Garage – approval requirements

The Residential Design Codes (R-Codes) define a garage as:

‘Any roofed structure, other than a carport, designed to accommodate one or more motor vehicles and attached to the dwelling.’

If the garage is not attached to the main house, it is classified as an outbuilding.

Planning requirements

A garage on a residential property will require a development (planning) application where it does not meet the requirements of the R-Codes, the City’s Residential Development Local Planning Policy (RDLPP), Development in Housing Opportunity Areas Local Planning Policy (HOALPP) or structure plan (if applicable).

Generally for a single house or grouped dwelling a development (planning) application is not required for your garage if it complies with the following:

  • Setback to minimum distance from the street boundary for your R-Code density (refer table below).
  • Setback the minimum distance from the side boundary for your R-Code density (refer table below).
  • For a single storey house, the garage occupies no more than 50% of the property frontage.
  • Where new hardstand areas (e.g. driveway) are being built, 50% of the street setback area is landscaped.

Additional requirements may apply if:

  • For higher dual-density properties, the garage is being built over landscaping area or removing trees.
  • The property is within a structure plan area.
  • A new driveway and/or crossover is being constructed, or an existing one modified. In addition to planning requirements, crossovers are required to be built in accordance with the City’s Crossover Guidelines.

All garages to multiple dwellings and commercial developments will require a development (planning) application.

R-Code Density Minimum Open Space Minimum Garage Street Setback Minimum Side or Rear Setback** Maximum Driveway Width (at the street boundary)
R20 50% Street the house faces: 4.5m and 0.5m behind the front of the house with all the buildings having an average street setback of 6m.

Side loading garages can be setback 3m where windows are incorporated into the street facade and all buildings have an average setback of 6m.

Other streets (corner property): 1.5m

 Length 10-14m: 1m

Length more than 14m: 1.5m

The total length includes the length of the garage and any attached structures.

6m

or

where two driveways are proposed, a total width of 9m
R20/25* 50% 5.5m 1m 4.5m
R20/30* 45%
R20/40* 45%
R20/60* 40%
*For properties with a dual-density code (e.g. R20/40) the requirements only apply if the property is developed at the higher density (e.g. R40). If your property has not been built to the higher density, refer to R20 requirements.

**A boundary wall (where the wall is setback closer than 600mm to a side or rear boundary) may be permitted where it is behind the street setback and meets the length and height requirements of the R-Codes, RDLPP or HOALPP (as applicable).

Building requirements

A building permit will be required for a garage.