Author: Lisa Smith
If you’re planning to build a shed on your property, there’s good news. Many small buildings in New Zealand can now be built without a building consent. This follows a recent change to the Building Act to make things easier for property owners.
As of 28 October 2025, new government regulations have relaxed setback (boundary distance) requirements for small residential buildings. This means you may now be able to place your shed closer to your boundary than before, as long as it still meets other exemption conditions.
We’ll break down what you can and can’t do under the updated rules below.
Understanding Building Consent Exemptions
Under the Building Act 2004, certain types of minor single-storey buildings are exempt from needing a building consent. These are listed in Schedule 1 of the Act and are explained in more detail on the MBIE Building Performance website.
These exemptions are designed to let homeowners complete small, low-risk projects, such as sheds, greenhouses, or shelters, without having to go through the full consent process.
At Outpost Buildings, many of our smaller kitset sheds and farm buildings fit within these exemptions, saving time and paperwork.
The Key Size Limits for Sheds
Small Sheds up to 10 m²
You can build a single-storey detached building up to 10 square metres in floor area without a building consent, provided that:
- The building is not used for living in (no sleeping, kitchen, or bathroom facilities).
- It’s not connected to a potable water supply or sewer drainage.
- It’s structurally sound and complies with the New Zealand Building Code.
- It’s used only for purposes such as storage, garden tools, a carport, or similar light uses.
This exemption covers most small garden and tool sheds. The kitset sheds offered by Outpost Buildings are designed to meet the NZ building code with the right materials and structurally sound designs. We have a range of sheds less than 10m² in floor area, such as the Firewood & Tool Shed Combo Shed or our Homestead Garden Shed
Medium Sheds 10–30 m²
You may also build larger sheds up to 30 m² under specific exemptions, as long as:
- The building is detached and single-storey.
- It does not have a height exceeding 3.5m above the floor level.
- It’s constructed from lightweight materials, such as timber framing, plywood, and metal cladding/roofing as used on Outpost kitset sheds.
- It’s not used for living or sanitary purposes. Plumbing work or hardwired electrical work requires a professional plumber or electrician and will often require a building consent.
Outpost Buildings offers a range of medium kitset sheds which use the right building materials and designs to meet the building exemption requirements, such as the popular Borderland Shed or the Upland Garden Shed.
The Borderland Shed has a 17.4m² floor size and has a height of 2.5m, which allows it to be built up to 1 metre from the property boundary or from another building.
Understanding The New October 2025 Boundary Distance Rules
The latest amendments to Schedule 1, which came into effect on 28 October 2025, have been one of the biggest updates in years.
As outlined in the Parliamentary Announcement:
- For buildings up to 10m², the setback requirement (minimum distance from a property boundary or another residential building) has been completely removed.
- For buildings between 10 m² and 30 m², the setback has been reduced to 1 metre.
Previously, the rule required the distance between a small building and the boundary or another residential building to be equal to the height of the building, which often made it difficult to place a shed near a fence or property line.
Now, property owners have much greater flexibility in where they can place their sheds, especially in smaller urban sections.
What Hasn’t Changed
While the new setback rules make things easier, other key conditions still apply:
- You must still comply with the Building Code. Even if no consent is required, your shed must still be built safely and structurally sound.
- You may still need a resource consent. Each local council has its own district plan that may limit building height, appearance, or placement (especially in coastal, heritage, or flood-risk zones). Check your council’s planning maps or contact them directly. For example, see the Auckland Council’s building guidance.
- Use restrictions remain. The shed must not be used for sleeping, cooking, or as a dwelling. Adding plumbing, drainage, or electrical systems can trigger further requirements.
- Size limits are unchanged. The 10m² and 30m² size thresholds still apply.
Our Final Thoughts
Always double-check your local council rules and Building Code compliance, but for most backyard gardeners and DIYers, these changes open up new possibilities for easier consent-free storage and workspace solutions. The setback (boundary distance) requirement has been completely removed for sheds under 10m². For larger sheds (between 10m² and 30m²), this distance has been reduced to just one metre, provided the shed meets all other consent exemption conditions.
At Outpost Buildings, our relocatable kitset sheds are built tough for New Zealand conditions, making them ideal for consent-free backyard or farm use. Every design uses treated timber and galvanised fittings with tough metal roofing/cladding options. These kitset sheds can be assembled on-site with detailed instructions provided and simple tools required.
Whether you need extra storage, a garden workspace, or a tidy farm shed, we can help you choose a compliant, low-maintenance kitset shed that fits your property and the new exemption rules.
