Do I need a permit to put a toilet in my shed in WA?

The plumbing must be done by a licensed plumber, who gives you a certificate of compliance. The shed itself needs a building permit if it is over 10 m² or 2.4 m high, and the toilet should be shown on the plans.

Can I put a shower in my shed?

Yes, as long as a licensed plumber installs it and the shed is not used as somewhere to live. A shed with a bathroom, kitchen and bed is treated as a dwelling.

Can I live in my shed if it has a bathroom?

No. A shed is an outbuilding that is not lived in. To live in it, it must be approved as a dwelling, such as a granny flat, which has stricter building rules.

Can I do the plumbing in my shed myself?

No. WA homeowners can only do a few basic tasks, like replacing a shower head or a cistern washer. All other water supply, sanitary and drainage plumbing must be done by a licensed plumber.

Can I Put a Toilet or Shower in My Shed in WA?

Can I put a toilet or shower in my shed?

Short answer

Usually yes. A licensed plumber must do the work and give you a certificate of compliance, and the waste must go to the sewer or an approved septic system. The shed must stay a shed: if it has a bathroom, kitchen and bed, council treats it as a dwelling, which needs different approvals.

Last updated 31 October 2026

The three rules that matter

Rule	What it means for you
A shed is not lived in	WA councils define an outbuilding as a freestanding enclosed structure that is not lived in. A toilet or shower is fine; sleeping or living in it is not.
A licensed plumber does the plumbing	Apart from a few small jobs like changing a shower head, all water supply, sanitary and drainage plumbing in WA must be done by a licensed plumber.
Waste has to go somewhere approved	Connect to the sewer, or on a septic lot, get council approval for the septic system.

When it stops being a shed

A toilet, basin or shower on its own is common in workshops, man caves and pool sheds. The trouble starts when a shed has a toilet, a shower and a kitchen and bed. At that point it looks like somewhere to live, and councils assess it as a dwelling, such as a granny flat. That means a different building standard (insulation, ceiling heights, energy efficiency, fire separation) and possibly planning approval.

The planning exemptions for sheds also depend on this. The City of Melville, for example, says a shed in a residential zone usually skips planning approval only if, among other things, it is non-habitable. If you want somewhere to live, build it as a granny flat from the start.

The approvals for a shed with a bathroom

Building permit. Most sheds need one anyway once they are over 10 m² or 2.4 m high. Show the toilet, shower and any wall linings on the plans.
Plumbing. Your plumber handles the plumbing paperwork. For new fixtures, they must give you a certificate of compliance within five working days of finishing. Keep it, as buyers and insurers may ask for it.
Septic. If your lot isn't on sewer, adding a toilet means a septic or treatment system, which needs council's health approval before it is installed.
Electrical. Hot water, lighting and an exhaust fan need a licensed electrician.

Practical tips

Order a drainage plumbing diagram for your property before you pick the shed's spot. It shows where your sewer runs, so you can place the shed where connecting is cheapest.
Don't build over existing sewer or drainage pipes.
Remember the shed setbacks: usually 1 m from side and rear boundaries to skip planning approval. How close can a shed be to the fence?