Building permit for a carport.
A carport is a Class 10a building. Only a freestanding one of 10 m² or less, inside the height and position limits, is exempt, so almost every carport needs a building permit.
The exemption limits
A freestanding Class 10a building, such as a carport, is exempt only when all of these apply.
- Its floor area is 10 m² or less.
- It is no more than 3 m high, or 2.4 m high if it is within 1 m of a boundary.
- If it belongs to another building on the lot, it sits no further forward than that building's front wall.
- If it does not belong to another building on the lot, it is the only Class 10a building there, set back at least 9 m from the front street and 2 m from any side street.
- It is not built of masonry.
A car needs more than 10 m², and a carport joined to the house is not freestanding, so in practice a carport needs a permit.
Carports on a boundary
Regulation 80 applies to a carport built on or within 1 m of a side or rear boundary that is open on the side facing it. The limits are:
- An average height of no more than 3.2 m, not counting any length under 2 m high, and no point higher than 3.6 m.
- A length along the boundary, counting any existing walls or carports on it, of no more than 10 m plus 25% of the remaining length of that boundary. In some planning zones, the zone's schedule sets the limit instead.
- Where it abuts an existing wall or carport on the neighbour's side, it can match that wall's height and length.
A design outside these limits needs the council's report and consent before we can issue the permit.
Enclosing a carport
Adding walls or a roller door turns a carport into a garage. That is new building work, and the rules for a garage then apply. See building permits for garages.
Request a quote
Request a quote online, or email what you have to info@cortekgroup.com.au, and we will quote a fixed fee for your building permit. For the permit itself we will need:
- The certificate of title and plan of subdivision, with any covenants or section 173 agreements
- Drawings issued for construction
- The engineer's drawings, computations and design certificate
- The planning permit and endorsed plans, if the project needs one
- If a builder is doing the work, the contract extract and, where it applies, the domestic building insurance certificate
- If you are an owner-builder, your certificate of consent from the BPC, where one is required
- A bushfire assessment, if the site is in a bushfire prone area
The full list is in our checklist for verandahs, carports, decks, sheds and garages.