Do sheds and garages need the same permit?

Both are Class 10a buildings and need a building permit, apart from small sheds of 10 m² or less and 2.4 m or lower. The planning rules are different: sheds follow outbuilding rules and garages follow street setback and boundary wall rules.

Do I need a registered builder for a garage in WA?

Not if it's worth less than $50,000. From 1 July 2026, Class 10a buildings like garages, sheds, carports and patios under $50,000 don't need a registered builder.

How close to the street can a garage be?

At the City of Stirling, 4.5 m from the front boundary, or closer if the garage is at least 0.5 m behind the front of the house.

Is a freestanding garage a shed?

It doesn't fit the R-Codes garage definition, which covers garages attached to the house. Ask your council which rules it will use.

Shed vs Garage: What Approvals Each Needs (WA)

Shed vs garage: what approvals each needs

Short answer

Both are Class 10a buildings and need a building permit (except sheds of 10 m² or less and 2.4 m or lower). The difference is planning: sheds follow the outbuilding rules (size, height, 1 m from boundaries), while garages follow street setback and boundary wall rules.

Last updated 3 November 2026

The difference in planning terms

	Shed (outbuilding)	Garage
What it is	A detached building that isn't lived in	The R-Codes define a garage as a roofed structure for vehicles, other than a carport, attached to the house
Building class	Class 10a	Class 10a
Building permit	Yes, unless 10 m² or less and 2.4 m or lower	Yes
Main planning rules	Size limits (often 60 m² or 10% of the lot), wall 2.4 m, ridge 4.2 m, 1 m from boundaries	Street setback (4.5 m at Stirling, or closer if 0.5 m behind the house), boundary walls, minimum sizes
Registered builder	Not needed under $50,000	Not needed under $50,000

What both need

Both are Class 10a buildings under the building code, so the building permit process is the same: plans, engineering, a BA1 or BA2 application, and council fees of 0.32% of the value for a BA2 (at least $121). Since 1 July 2026, a Class 10a building worth less than $50,000 doesn't have to be built by a registered builder, and you can build it yourself without owner-builder approval.

Sheds: the outbuilding rules

At councils like Wanneroo and Melville, a shed skips planning approval if it's no more than 60 m² or 10% of the lot, walls are no higher than 2.4 m and the ridge no higher than 4.2 m, and it's at least 1 m from side and rear boundaries. Go bigger or taller and you'll need planning approval.

Garages: the street and boundary rules

At the City of Stirling, a garage can be as close as 4.5 m to the front boundary, or closer if it's at least 0.5 m behind the front of the house. A garage wall can go on the side boundary on R20 lots and above, but must sit behind the primary street setback (6 m on R20 and R25, 4 m on R30 and R40). Minimum size is 5.4 m long and 2.4 m wide for a single, or 4.8 m wide for a double.

Freestanding garages

A garage that isn't attached to the house doesn't fit the R-Codes garage definition. Ask your council whether it will assess yours under its garage rules or its outbuilding (shed) rules, as this changes the size and height limits.