Consent Free Sheds

Building consent exemptions make it easier to build qualifying sheds and garages up to 30m². In rural zones, a separate exemption covers qualifying pole sheds and hay barns up to 110m² used for farming activities. Each exemption has specific requirements for design, construction, location and use.

Custom consent free pole shed, black and fully clad in colorsteel tin

Consent-Free Sheds Built for NZ Conditions

You may be able to build a shed or garage up to 30m² without building consent. For farming activities in rural zones, qualifying pole sheds and hay barns can be up to 110m².

At Waikato Sheds, we design strong, long-lasting consent-exempt sheds that comply with New Zealand’s Building Act. Whether you need a storage shed, workshop, or utility space, we’ll help you build faster, avoid unnecessary red tape, and still get a fully engineered, durable structure on a concrete foundation.

Our Favourite Consent Free Sheds

Click on the pictures of some of our favourite sheds below and make them YOUR DREAM SHED!

Residential Consent Free Shed

Rural Consent Free Shed

Grannyflat with carport

What Is a Consent-Free Shed?

New Zealand’s Building Act allows certain buildings to be constructed without building consent when specific requirements are met. These include qualifying detached sheds and garages up to 30m², and qualifying pole sheds and hay barns up to 110m² used for farming activities in rural zones.

At Waikato Sheds, we design and engineer consent-exempt sheds that comply with these rules — giving you a faster, simpler, and more cost-effective way to build, without compromising on strength, safety, or durability.

What does this mean for You?

If your building qualifies for an exemption, you can spend less time on consent paperwork and put more of your budget towards the building itself.

However, as always, there are still some rules and regulations that you need to keep in mind

internal plan length by width

Rules and Limitations:
The size limitations are defined by what is the internal floor area i.e. AxB.

The building must not have any plumbing work (kitchen, bathroom, laundry). Any plumbing work still requires consent.

Any electrical work must be carried out by a registered electrician.

The manufacturer or supplier of steel portal frame buildings must have had the design carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer.

All buildings must comply with New Zealand’s Building Code, your local District Plan and the Resource Management Act.

A Project Information Memorandum (PIM) can be obtained for a much smaller cost than a building consent from your local consenting authority. A PIM helps to identify the feasibility of a specific project on a piece of land under the requirements of the Building Act and Resource Management Act. Obtaining a PIM will help to clarify whether a building consent is required or not.

If you’re unsure, councils have the ability to inform you if your building project does or does not require a building consent, for a small fee. Please check with your local council whether they offer this service. Once an exemption is given it is recorded on your property file giving confidence to any future purchaser of your property that the building was legally built without a building consent.

Residential Consent-Free Sheds – Up to 30m²

Qualifying single-storey, detached sheds and garages up to 30m² can be built without building consent, provided the applicable exemption requirements are met.

For an engineered kitset or prefabricated building between 10m² and 30m², these include:

Maximum net floor area: 30m².
Maximum height above floor level: 3.5 metres.
Maximum floor height above supporting ground: 1 metre.
Minimum separation: 1 metre from legal boundaries and residential buildings.
Engineering: The supplier or manufacturer must have the design carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer.
Construction: The building must be assembled in accordance with the approved design.
Facilities: The 30m² shed exemption does not cover sanitary facilities or drinking-water storage facilities. Kitchens, bathrooms and laundries can be included in qualifying dwellings under the separate granny flat exemption for new, standalone, single-storey homes up to 70m², provided all exemption requirements are met.

These buildings can suit garages, storage, home gyms and hobby spaces. Sleepouts can also qualify when used with an existing dwelling, provided they have no cooking facilities, have smoke alarms installed and meet all other requirements.

All buildings must comply with the Building Code and applicable planning rules. We’ll help you check whether your proposed shed and site qualify.

Rural Consent-Free Sheds – Up to 110m²

Qualifying single-storey pole sheds and hay barns used for farming activities in rural zones can be built without building consent, provided all exemption requirements are met. These include:

Maximum net floor area: 110m².
Maximum height above floor level: 4 metres.
Maximum floor height above supporting ground: 1 metre.
Maximum unsupported roof span in any direction: 6 metres.
Location: Must meet the required separation from residential buildings, public roads, railways and legal boundaries.
Wind conditions: Design wind speed must not exceed 44m/s, or the wind zone must be no greater than high.
Minimum separation: The building must be further than its own height from any residential building, public road, railway or legal boundary.
Use: Must meet Importance Level 1 requirements, have no public access and must not store hazardous substances.
Professional involvement: Design must be carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer, or design and construction must be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner under the relevant exemption.

These buildings can provide shelter for livestock or storage for hay, feed and farm equipment. Being on a rural property alone does not qualify a general-purpose shed or garage for this exemption. Building Code and applicable planning requirements still apply.

Customizable Designs and Quality Assurance

At Waikato Sheds, we understand that every property and purpose is unique. That’s why we offer customizable shed designs to suit your specific requirements. Our sheds are constructed using high-quality materials, including NZ-made COLORSTEEL® cladding, and are engineered to meet the stringent standards of the New Zealand Building Code.

Each consent-free shed comes with a Producer Statement (PS1) signed by a Chartered Professional Engineer, providing assurance of compliance and quality.

Kitset or Full Build — NZ-Wide

We offer flexible build options for our granny flats, minor dwellings, lifestyle sheds and habitable sheds right across New Zealand.

Kitsets Delivered Nationwide
Our premium shed and dwelling kitsets are delivered NZ-wide, supplied with full plans and supporting documentation ready for consent and construction on your concrete pad.

Trusted Builder Partner Network Nationwide
Through our partnership with Smith & Sons, you can purchase a Kitset Shed from us and get it built professionally by a team that knows what they’re doing. To see which regions they operate in, click here.

Full Build Service
We provide a complete, turnkey build service across Waikato, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel and Taupō, managing everything from slab preparation through to final handover.

Whether you’re organising your own builder or using our nationwide network, we provide practical support at every stage to ensure a straightforward, compliant build process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I live in a consent-free shed?
Yes, provided it’s designed and built for residential use and meets NZ’s building consent exemption requirements. It must also comply with the Building Code and applicable planning rules.

Do I still need council approval even if it’s consent-exempt?
While a building consent may not be necessary, some councils require notification, and zoning rules still apply. We’ll help you navigate local requirements.

Can I install power or water in a consent-free shed?
Yes, but electrical or plumbing work must be carried out by licensed professionals and may require separate consents. We can design your shed to accommodate future upgrades.

What is the largest shed I can build without building consent?
Qualifying detached sheds and garages can be up to 30m². A separate exemption allows qualifying pole sheds and hay barns up to 110m² when used for farming activities in rural zones. The applicable design, construction, location and use requirements must all be met.

Are all consent-free sheds built on concrete pads?
Yes. All our sheds, including consent-free models, are constructed on engineered concrete foundations for durability, strength, and compliance.