Do I need council approval for a patio, shed, deck or pool?

Sometimes no, usually yes, and a site plan helps either way. Small, low structures that meet every condition your state sets can usually go ahead without building approval; patios, carports, decks, pools, granny flats and larger sheds generally need it. Even an exempt structure still has to meet the siting rules.

To check a particular block, type its address into RapidSiteplan: it reads the lot and the rules that apply there and checks the structure you place against them, in minutes.

What can go ahead without approval?

Small sheds and similar structures under a floor-area and height limit, sitting behind the building line, can be exempt or “accepted” development in many areas, and each state words it its own way. But here is the trap: exempt from approval is not exempt from the rules. Boundary setbacks, easements and covenants still apply, and a site plan is how you prove you have met them if anyone ever asks.

What usually needs approval?

Patios, carports, decks, garages, granny flats, pools and larger sheds generally need building approval or private certification, and some also need a planning decision from council. The first document on the assessor's checklist is always the same one: the site plan, with the structure on the real lot, dimensioned, setbacks and coverage shown.

Why draw the site plan first?

Whichever side of the line your project falls on, drawing the site plan first can save you weeks. You see straight away whether the structure clears the boundaries and the easements, before anything is spent on materials.

What only your address can answer

which state's exemptions apply, and whether the lot sits on land they exclude
where your boundaries run, and any easement across the lot
which overlays your council has mapped over the block
whether your council sets its own limits for a lot your size
the wind class the structure has to be built for

RapidSiteplan reads your own block from its address: the boundaries, the buildings already on it, the rules that apply there and any overlay or easement, and checks what you plan to build against them on a scaled site plan.

The post on approval after the work is built covers what happens next.

The post on rainwater tanks covers when a water tank needs approval and whether its water is safe to drink.

Search your address to start. Site plans and assessments in minutes.

Sources: the siting rules a site plan is read against, by state, all read in September 2026: Queensland Housing Code (Qld); State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (NSW); Building Regulations 2018 (Vic); Planning and Design Code (SA); Residential Design Codes Volume 1 (WA); Tasmanian Planning Scheme, State Planning Provisions (Tas); Planning (Exempt Development) Regulation 2023 (ACT); NT Planning Scheme 2020 (NT). The post on exempt development in New South Wales covers what the standards test.

Common questions

Do I need council approval for a patio or shed? Small structures under a size and height limit, behind the building line, can be exempt in many areas; anything larger needs building approval. Boundary clearances and easements apply either way, so check with your own council or certifier.

What happens if I build without approval? Councils can require you to apply retrospectively, modify the structure, or remove it, and it can complicate selling the property. A site plan done up front catches setback and easement problems before they cost you.

What can I build without council approval? Usually only small, low structures that meet every condition your state sets, such as a small garden shed, or an open pergola in some states. The conditions cover size, height, where it sits on the lot and what the land is, and they differ between states. If you are close to any limit, check with a certifier before you build.