Sheds, Carports and Shipping Containers
Can I build a shed or carport on my property?
You will need an approval from Council to build a shed or carport or locate a shipping container on your property.
There are specific ‘rules’ for sheds, carports, patios, verandas, decks, shade sails, and shipping containers which are explained further.
Check zone overlays
This information is for properties in residential neighbourhoods that are in the Low Density Residential Zone, Low-medium Density Residential, or the Medium Residential. If your land is in a different zone, it is best to contact Council directly to discuss the additional or alternative requirements that may apply.
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What are the requirements to meet?
The following table shows the requirements that you will need to meet.
Please refer to Queensland Development Code MP1.2 for more information.
| Design |
Requirement |
| Council Services |
Clear of underground services like sewerage, water and stormwater pipes, as well as easements. More information |
| Front Setback |
6 metres from the road frontage. |
| Height |
Maximum height of 2 storeys and/or 9 metres. |
| Side and Rear Setbacks |
1.5m setback where the shed has a height of 4.5 metres. Setback requirements increase for structures higher than 4.5 metres. |
| Site Cover |
A maximum of 50% of the property can be covered by buildings. |
Figure 1 - Design requirements
In some cases, a shed, carport or shipping container may be inside these boundary clearances if the height and length meet Queensland Development Code MP1.2.
Please contact Council on (07) 4970 0700 or info@gladstone.qld.gov.au for more information.
Can I build a shed on vacant land if I don’t have a house on there?
Yes, you can, provided that you get building approval from a building certifier and comply with the Council as Building Work – Amenity and Aesthetics Policy. If you’re unable to comply, an application for Amenity & Aesthetics will be required and Council will assess the proposed shed against these criteria when making their assessment:
- The general siting, setback and height requirements as shown in Figure 1
- The shed is located to the back of the site so that any future house can be located in front of the shed
- The size of the shed leaves enough space to allow a future house to be established
Can I live in my shed?
A shed on vacant land may only be ‘lived in’ and used as a home, if:
- You have a temporary occupancy permit - which you can get once you have approval for building the house on the same site.
- A shed must meet a number of design and material criteria before it can be reclassified and gain approval as a house (or a “Class 1a building”).
Important Tips!
Hidden costs!
It can be a very expensive and time-consuming to design or modify a shed to make it legal to ‘live in’. Before considering the purchase of a property with only a shed, or choosing to build a shed to live in, it is recommended to talk to a Builder about the costs involved for construction.
One of Council’s Building Certifiers will be able to help you understand more about the approvals and related costs.
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Even prefabricated sheds need cyclone proofing!
Even a garden shed that you can buy at Bunnings will need to be constructed so that it meets the national construction code requirements for structures within Region C Wind Zone.
This can add significant cost to a simple prefabricated shed.
Are you cyclone ready?
Can I have a shipping container on my property?
Shipping containers have the same requirements as a shed or carport for setbacks, height and design features (refer Figure 1). A shipping container or relocatable storage structure may be on a house block if you comply with the Council as Building Work – Amenity and Aesthetics Policy. If you’re unable to comply, an application for Amenity & Aesthetics will be required and a building approval. You will also need to meet the following requirements:
- A maximum of one Shipping Container (or Railway Carriage) on the property
- Located behind the house and not be visible from the main street frontage
- Screened by landscaping or a suitable screening structure so it’s not visible
- Painted with a consistent colour scheme to the house.
Can I have a shade sail on my property?
A shade sail is a structure with a fabric material. The structure can have any number of posts or be affixed to a structure and is usually used to create shade.
Shade sails require building approval and are subject to the same requirements as carports, sheds and shipping containers.
Cyclone proofing
Gladstone is located within a Cyclonic Wind Region which means there are certain structural standards and tie-down requirements when constructing building or structures. This also means that any structure that is relocated into the region, or relocated from within the region, needs to meet certain tests. Key measures to ensure the structures on your property can resist potential wind impacts include:
- Selecting the right products that meet relevant standards tests and are suitable for use in the Gladstone region.
- Ensuring all building work (repair or new construction) is undertaken by licensed tradespeople.
- Checking with Council to confirm whether additional approvals are required.
What if I don’t meet the requirements?
If the structure does not comply with all of the requirements set by legislation, your Building Approval may also need to include an Amenity and Aesthetics and/ or Boundary Relaxation Approval from Council’s Town Planning section. Council will assess these applications based on:
- The size and shape of the site and how much development is on your property and the next door properties
- How the proposal will look from the street and from adjoining properties
- The type of design, building materials and colours that will be used and any landscaping treatments that could soften and/or screen any impacts.
Contact Council on (07) 4970 0700 or info@gladstone.qld.gov.au for further assistance.
Checklist - Sheds, carports, shipping containers
This checklist helps you manage the steps to obtain an approval to construct or modify Sheds, carports, shipping containers.
Click on the + symbol or the questions below to expand and display each item.
Who will need to be involved?
Do I need a building approval?
If you are building a shed, carport or installing a shipping container you will need a building approval which is obtained through a Building Certifier.
Do I need amenity and aesthetics application or boundary relaxation?
If you want to build a shed or carport and do not meet all of the requirements you will need to lodge an Amenity and Aesthetics application and/or a Development Applications application.
Do I need cyclone proofing?
All structures in the region must be designed to ensure they can withstand wind loads to the site specific wind design parameters.
Amenity and aesthetics or boundary relaxation application - what information do I need to provide?
- Copy of documents from the Building Application
- Site Plan drawn to scale and with dimensions (measurements) to show the location of the shed/carport location, size and design
- Floor Plans drawn to scale (if the proposal is to ‘live in’ the shed)
- Elevations drawn to scale which shows all building elevations and facades, clearly labeled that identify orientation (e.g. North elevation) and finished height above natural ground level
- Form 15 - Compliance Certificate for Building Design or Specification
- Assessment fee as per Council’s Fees and charges.
Building approval - what information do I need to provide?
- Completed DA Applicaiton Form 2
- Site Plan that has been drawn to scale and with dimensions (measurements) that shows the details of the shed/carport location, size and design
- Cross Section through the proposed structure with dimensions (measurements)
- Copy of the Bracing and Tie-down methods proposed for the structure
- If prefabricated, a copy of the wind rating of the structure from the product manufacturer
- Assessment fee as per Council’s Fees and charges.
Get started:
Once you have the required approval, you can work with the builder/contractor to progress your project. Ensure you book inspections at the relevant points of construction as set out in your conditions of approval.
Please note, you cannot become an owner-builder (obtain a license if the work is over $11,000) for this type of work because the Queensland Building Services Authority does not issue owner-builder permits retrospectively.
Further information about lodging applications can be found here https://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/.
To see other Fact Sheets, hover over the image above and click on an aspect (or symbol such as a fence, house etc). This will display another Fact Sheet for you on that subject.
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