Homeowners will soon be able to build small structures like garden sheds, sleepouts and garages closer to their property boundaries without requiring building consent following regulatory changes announced by the Government today.
Cabinet agreed to remove the minimum distance required between single-storey buildings under 10sqm and a property boundary or other residential building, and reduce it to one metre for buildings between 10 and 30 square metres.
Previously, these structures needed to be set back from boundaries by at least their own height unless a building consent was obtained.
The changes, which would be made by amending Schedule 1 of the Building Act, were expected to take effect later this year.
All building work must still comply with the Building Code and local district plans.
Regulation Minister David Seymour said shrinking section sizes and the cost of living meant forcing people to put sheds in the middle of their lawn or pay for consent to store tools “doesn’t make sense”.
“There is no justification for such generous setback distances on private property,” he said.
“Today’s housing market means space is tight and building costs are high. These types of property developments are practical and affordable improvements. We want people to be able to utilise them without hassle.”
Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk said the Government did not believe Kiwis should be “bogged down in bureaucracy” when making use of their backyard.
“That’s a real win for anyone short on space, giving them more freedom to add a bike shed, protect their tools, cover a vehicle, or even create a small sleepout for guests – all without extra paperwork.”
Seymour said the regulation change had come about due to the Ministry of Regulation’s red tape tipline, an online resource where the public could make submissions on regulations that affect them.
Larger granny flats able to be built without consent
The Government also announced earlier this year it would ease rules around granny flats and increase the maximum size that could be built without consent to 70 square metres.
An increase to 60 square metres was a National-NZ First coalition agreement, but Housing Minister Chris Bishop said “huge support” meant the Government would go even further.
“It’s currently far too hard to build the homes New Zealanders need, with even the simplest dwellings tangling up homeowners and builders in red tape.”
Under the proposal, granny flats could be built without consent if they had a simple design, met the Building Code, were built by authorised builders, and if the council was notified before and after construction.
The amendment bill passed its first reading and was currently at the select committee stage, with the report due back next month.