Building permit for a garage.
A garage is a Class 10a building. Unless it is freestanding and no more than 10 m², it needs a building permit, and a garage joined to the house always does.
The exemption limits
A freestanding garage 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.
Few garages fit inside 10 m², so most need a permit.
Walls on a boundary
Many garages are built on or near a side or rear boundary. Regulation 80 limits any wall on or within 200 mm of that boundary to:
- 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.
Converting a garage into a room
Turning a garage into a bedroom or living area changes it from a Class 10a building to part of the house. That needs a building permit, and the new room has to meet the requirements for a habitable room, such as ceiling height, natural light, ventilation and energy efficiency.
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.