Shed approval in Brisbane

Brisbane's planning scheme sets no side setback of its own on a standard lot, so the state's siting rules decide how close a shed may sit to the side fence, while the scheme governs height and bulk. It also caps the combined length of the house, any secondary dwelling and every domestic outbuilding, so a long garage beside an already long house can tip the lot over.

On the smallest lots the scheme runs its own section: a shed or garage wall built to the boundary is kept low and short, stays clear of a neighbour's habitable room window and stays out of the front and rear setbacks. In the older suburbs under the traditional building character overlay, structures forward of the house are restricted and external work is assessed against the character provisions first.

The council maps bushfire, flood, heritage and landslide; the state adds vegetation. Flood mapping can bring floor level conditions, landslide land usually a soil test and engineer designed footings. A siting variation is the council's decision; building approval sits with a private certifier or the council. Urban Utilities decides build-over and keeps a clear zone around the property connection and maintenance covers.

The site plan shows the shed's footprint and height, its distance to each boundary and the house, every other outbuilding, and the sewer and connection point.

What catches people out in Brisbane

• On a character lot, a shed or garage in front of the house is restricted.
• The combined length of the house and its outbuildings is capped, so a long garage can tip a long house over.
• On a very small lot a boundary wall is kept low and short and out of the front and rear setbacks.
• A slab placed over the sewer connection's clear zone is easy to miss.

What a site plan for a shed looks like