Shed permits, minus the headache.

In Victoria, a building permit is required for any structure over 10 square metres, and that includes open carports and replacements of existing sheds. Under 10 square metres, you generally do not need a building permit as long as the shed is no taller than 2.4 metres and is not in front of your house. Most garden sheds fall under that line.

A standard building permit usually takes 1 to 2 weeks once all documents are in, meaning your signed contract and the engineering. If your property needs a planning permit as well, that runs through your council and depends on the council and the complexity of the case. 1 to 3 months is standard and it can be much longer. No one can guarantee a council’s timing.

We assist you through the whole thing. For garages, carports, barns and farm sheds the Shed Bonanza permit team prepares the site plan, title search and engineering drawings, and coordinates the private building surveyor who assesses and issues your permit. Garden sheds are the exception, they usually do not need a permit and permit assistance does not apply to them.

No, and this one matters. Nothing can be poured until the permit is issued and the building surveyor has inspected and approved the footings. Your concreter can set up the formwork, but must not pour. A slab poured early risks being non-compliant, and the finished floor level has to match the approved drawings.

Two. A footing inspection before any concrete is poured, and a final inspection after the shed is built and a licensed plumber has connected the downpipes to stormwater. Both are booked with the private building surveyor named on your permit, and we help you through it.

It is best avoided. Building over an easement needs approval from both the council and the water authority, which can trigger extra applications, council fees, consent fees and potentially custom engineering. It adds time and money and approval is not guaranteed. Shed Bonanza can help if there is no other option, but moving the shed clear of the easement is almost always the better path.

Yes. If the new shed is over 10 square metres, a building permit is required even when something already stands on the site. The old concrete usually cannot simply be reused for a permitted build either. Depending on the situation it may need new footings or an engineer’s certification, and our team will advise what applies to yours.

You can, but changes at that stage mean amended drawings, sometimes fresh engineering, and an amendment to the permit. That costs money and adds delay, so the golden rule is to check everything, size, position, doors and colours, before it goes in.

Work should start within about a year of the permit being issued or it can lapse. Our team keeps your job moving so this rarely becomes an issue.

It is rare, but if the assessment shows your permit cannot be obtained, your money is returned minus what was already spent on the investigation, such as council fees, reports and the admin work done.

If the value of the building work is over $20,000, Victoria requires either an owner-builder certificate of consent from the Building and Plumbing Commission or a registered builder. The Shed Bonanza team walks you through which path fits your project.