Restrictions to be eased on garden sheds

Work is underway to change the Building Act to make it easier for Kiwis to build a small shed or garage closer to their property boundary, or another building, without a building consent. 

By the end of 2025, homeowners will be able to:

• build a single storey detached building between 10 and 30 square metres in floor area one metre away from any boundary or another building without a building consent.
• build single storey detached buildings under 10 square metres up to the boundary or another building without building consent.

Until the law changes, detached standalone buildings that don’t meet the current set back requirements may need a consent.

Currently, garden sheds and other small structures up to 30 square metres can only be built without building consent if they meet certain criteria. 

Read more about the current rules for detached, standalone buildings.

These changes aim to give homeowners more choice about how they use their land, reducing consenting costs and delays along the way.

Read the Minister for Regulation and the Minister for Building and Construction’s press release - beehive.govt.nz