Do I Need A Building Permit?
Whether you’ll need council approval depends on a few factors.
📍 Location: Rules differ across Australian states and territories.
📐 Studio Size: Larger structures are more likely to require a permit.
📏 Boundary Setbacks: How close your studio is to property lines matters.
🚿 Plumbing: Adding plumbing may trigger permit requirements.
📏 Height: Councils often have maximum height restrictions.
📄 Planning Overlays: Local zoning rules may affect what's allowed.
🏠 Use: Studios used as non-habitable spaces (Class 10a) often don’t need a permit.
VIC
- Must be under 10m² in floor area
- Freestanding (not attached to another building)
- Not used as a habitable space (e.g. no sleeping or cooking)
- Located behind the front wall of the main house
- Minimum 1 metre setback from side and rear boundaries
- Maximum height of 3 metres
- No plumbing included
- Must comply with any planning overlays (e.g. heritage, bushfire zones)
NSW
- Must be less than 20m² in floor area
- Maximum height of 3 metres
- Located behind the building line of the main dwelling
- Minimum 900mm setback from each side and rear boundary
- Must be a detached structure (freestanding)
- Structure must be non-habitable
- No plumbing included
- Must comply with any planning overlays (e.g. heritage, bushfire zones)
ACT
- Maximum height of 3m
- Located behind the front wall of the main house
- At least 1m away from side and rear boundaries
- No plumbing included
- Not used as a habitable space (e.g. no sleeping or cooking)
- Must be a detached structure (freestanding)
- Must not cover more than 50% of the rear yard
- Must comply with any planning overlays (e.g. heritage, bushfire zones)
Size Limitations Based on Block Size:
To qualify for exemption, your studio must not exceed the following size limits based on your block size:
- If your block is under 500m² → max plan area is 10m²
- If your block is 500m² to 600m² → max plan area is 25m²
QLD
- The floor area is under 10m²
- The building height is under 2.4m
- The studio is located behind the main building line (i.e. not forward of your house when viewed from the street)
- The studio is set back at least 1.5m from all side and rear boundaries
- The studio is not connected to plumbing
- The land is not in a heritage, character, flood, or bushfire overlay
- Not used as a habitable space (e.g. no sleeping or cooking)
SA
- he studio is a Class 10a structure (non-habitable use such as a garden studio, office, or gym)
- The floor area is under 15m²
- The maximum height is under 2.5m
- The studio is located behind the main dwelling on the property
- The structure is at least 900mm from any boundary
- There is no plumbing or sanitary facilities (e.g. toilets, showers, or sinks)
- The land is not subject to any overlays such as heritage, bushfire, flood, or character zones
WA
- The studio is a Class 10a structure (e.g. garden room, home office, studio, or shed)
- The floor area is less than 10m²
- The structure is freestanding (not attached to another building)
- The maximum height is under 2.4m
- The studio is located behind the primary dwelling
- The structure is set back at least 900mm from boundaries
- There is no plumbing or sanitary fittings (e.g. no toilets, basins, showers)
- The property is not in a special use area or heritage overlay, and not affected by flood or bushfire designations