You might have heard of an urban myth which suggests that if you build a shed on a rural property, you are exempt in needing council approval.

While this might be true for some small structures, it’s certainly not the case in all circumstances.

In most cases, farm sheds which qualify as exempt from building approvals are pre-engineered for agricultural purposes.

But keep in mind that if this is the case for your farm shed, other regulations will still need to be upheld such as the correct distance from your property boundary or any near-by houses.

The moral of the story? It’s always best to check with your local council before you build.

But what happens if you still decide to take the risk and not apply for building approval or contact your council to check?

You’re taking a big risk if you don’t seek planning permission

Should you decide to take the benefit of the doubt that you don’t need to check on planning approvals before building your shed, you are leaving yourself vulnerable to numerous potential consequences – all of which are avoidable if you take the time to sort out any building approvals at the start of the process.

If you were planning on going ahead with building your shed without checking on planning permissions, here’s a list of reasons as to why you may want to re-consider:

• You may have to pull your shed down anyway.
  Can you imagine going to the effort of erecting your new structure, only to be made take it down again and start from scratch? Council has the authority to make you pull down your building if it is found to have been illegally built. If you’re wondering how they would ever possibly find out, councils have been known to use satellite imagery to make sure people don’t have illegal structures on their property!
• It might be as simple as a phone call or visiting your local council.
  Are you putting off checking on planning permissions because you don’t have time for a long-winded process? It is better to check with your council as some sheds require approval - but some don’t. You might soon realise that you don’t need planning permissions anyway – and then you’re free to proceed with your build stress-free.  
• It will matter when it comes to selling.
  Consider the long-term consequences too. When you want to sell your property down the track, all structures need to be approved and if yours doesn’t have the correct planning permissions, it may prevent you from a straight forward sale.
• It will matter when it comes to your insurance.
  On the chance that someone gets injured by your shed or there is a fatality because of the structure, your insurance, as well as the person involved's, may not be valid if you haven’t sought the right planning permissions.

• Save your pennies from the start.
  While it may cost you, a proactive application for building approval is much cheaper than what you’ll be spending to get an approval retrospectively – or having to demolish the entire shed and start again.

An added benefit of dealing with an honest shed supplier specialist such as Allied Sheds is that we will help you throughout the process and offer our advice as to whether or not council is likely to grant you with a building permit.

A reputable shed company should be able to provide you with:

• Stamped engineering drawings
• Floor Plan and Elevation
• Slab/footing drawings
• Assistance with paper work and council approvals.

Now that you’re in the know as to why it’s so important to get your shed building process correct from the start, it’s time to explore your options for your brand new shed.

We are here to help you with the ground work. You can contact our expert shed specialists and request a detailed plan on your build - simply enquire online today! Or request a detailed plan.