Free The Sheds.
Common-sense shed reform for residential and rural New Zealand
New Zealanders should be able to build safe, engineered, low-risk sheds without unnecessary building consent cost and delay.
We are calling for two practical reforms:
Residential and lifestyle-zone sheds up to 70m² - extend the existing consent-free shed rules so low-risk, single-storey, non-habitable sheds, garages and workshops up to 70m² can use the existing 1m setback rule, provided they comply with the Building Code, district plan and safety requirements.
Engineer-certified rural structures without arbitrary floor-area and unsupported-span caps - replace arbitrary floor-area and unsupported-span caps with rules based on actual engineering risk, where the structure is single-storey, non-habitable, no more than 6m high, set back at least its own height from boundaries and other buildings, and designed or certified by a New Zealand Chartered Professional Engineer.
Free The Sheds is not asking to remove safety standards. We are asking for qualifying low-risk, single-storey, detached, non-habitable sheds and engineer-certified rural structures to be building-consent exempt where clear conditions are met. The Building Code, district plan, stormwater, setbacks, fire separation, site coverage, height controls, neighbour protections, and engineering requirements still apply.
Keep the Standards · Cut the Red Tape · Match the Rules to the Risk
A 70m² minor dwelling is building-consent exempt.
A 35m² shed is not.
New Zealanders can build a standalone dwelling up to 70 square metres - with bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and people living in it - without building consent. Yet a basic 36m² double garage still requires the full council process. No plumbing. No habitation. Full consent. This is not a coherent approach to risk.
Building-consent exempt
A 70m² minor dwelling - a habitable home with full plumbing, a bathroom, a kitchen, and bedrooms. People living in it full-time. Built by licensed professionals, council notified.
Building consent required
A 36m² double garage - steel or timber frame, corrugated iron, no plumbing, no one living in it. Nothing complex. Full building consent still required.
A system that lets you build a home without consent but not a shed has lost sight of what building consent is actually for.
Keep the standards. Cut the red tape. Match the rules to the risk.
What we are calling for
These are targeted, practical reforms. Both keep safety and engineering requirements. Both match the regulatory burden to the actual risk of the structure.
| Area | Current issue | Proposed reform |
|---|---|---|
| Residential / lifestyle zones | Consent-free detached sheds are generally restricted to smaller sizes, even when low-risk and non-habitable | Allow low-risk, non-habitable sheds up to 70m² using the existing 1m setback rule |
| Rural zones | Rural structures are limited by arbitrary size and span restrictions | Replace arbitrary floor-area and unsupported-span caps with rules based on actual engineering risk, where the structure is engineer-certified, maximum 6m high, and set back at least its own height from boundaries |
| Safety | The public may think this means no rules | Keep Building Code, engineering, district plan, stormwater, setback, fire separation and safety requirements |
Residential and lifestyle-zone sheds up to 70m²
We are calling for the existing detached shed exemption to be extended so that low-risk, single-storey, detached, non-habitable sheds, garages and workshops up to 70m² can be building-consent exempt where:
- The building is at least 1m from any legal boundary or residential building
- It contains no sleeping accommodation, kitchen, bathroom, sanitary plumbing or potable water storage
- It complies with the New Zealand Building Code
- It complies with district plan, fire separation, site coverage, stormwater and height rules
- The design is carried out or reviewed by a suitably qualified professional where required
This mirrors the framework already used for consent-free minor dwellings - keeping professional oversight and standards while removing unnecessary council paperwork for structures that pose minimal risk. Consent-free does not mean rule-free. Building Code compliance, district plan rules, setbacks, stormwater, fire separation, height limits, and professional design requirements may still apply.
Engineer-certified rural structures
In rural zones, we are calling for the current arbitrary floor-area and unsupported-span caps to be replaced with rules based on actual engineering risk. Keep the Chartered Professional Engineer requirement, keep external-risk controls, and keep the maximum height at 6m and setbacks at least equal to the building’s own height. Provided the building is:
- Single-storey
- Non-habitable
- Not accessible to the public
- Not used to store hazardous substances
- No more than 6m high
- Set back at least its own height from any legal boundary or other building
- Designed or certified by a Chartered Professional Engineer registered in New Zealand
- Compliant with the Building Code, district plan, RMA, stormwater and site-specific requirements
This is the same standard already applied to consent-free pole sheds and hay barns - engineering oversight is the appropriate safeguard. We are calling for that principle to apply consistently to all engineer-certified rural structures. Consent-free does not mean rule-free. The Building Code, district plan rules, RMA compliance, stormwater, and site-specific requirements still apply.
What still needs building consent
Free The Sheds supports the current building consent process for industrial buildings, habitable sheds, public-use buildings, and complex structures where the risk, use, occupancy, plumbing, fire safety, or structural requirements justify formal council oversight.
We do not support removing building consent requirements for:
- Industrial buildings and workshops with significant structural requirements
- Habitable sheds - any building intended for people to live or sleep in
- Public-use buildings and buildings accessible to the general public
- Hazardous-substance storage facilities
- Buildings with significant plumbing, fire-safety, or services requirements
- Complex structures where formal engineering and council oversight is appropriate
We support building consents in their current form for those buildings. They carry higher risk and need proper engineering, fire safety, durability, access, services, and compliance checks. The consent process exists for good reason - it just needs to match the actual risk of what is being built.
Consent-free does not mean rule-free. Building Code requirements, district plan rules, setbacks, stormwater, fire separation, height limits, and professional design or engineering requirements may still apply. This campaign is about low-risk, single-storey, detached, non-habitable sheds and engineer-certified rural structures - where the regulatory process should match the actual risk.
What we are not asking for
This campaign is about matching rules to risk - not removing them.
- Removal of the Building Code
- Removal of engineering requirements for rural structures
- Unsafe or poorly built sheds
- Ignoring district plans, setbacks, stormwater, fire separation, site coverage, height controls or neighbour protections
- Bypassing health and safety standards or council oversight where it is still required
- Habitable buildings, public buildings, hazardous-substance storage or plumbing-heavy structures to be treated as simple sheds
- Low-risk sheds and rural structures regulated according to actual risk, not arbitrary size limits
- Engineer-certified rural structures without arbitrary floor-area and unsupported-span caps
- Qualifying low-risk, single-storey, non-habitable residential sheds to be building-consent exempt where conditions are met
- A consent process proportional to the complexity and risk of what is being built
Keep the standards. Cut the red tape. Match the rules to the risk.
Share the campaign
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Share on Facebook
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🏗️ Did you know New Zealanders can now build a 70m² home without building consent — but still need full council approval for a basic shed? It doesn't add up. Free The Sheds is a New Zealand industry-led campaign calling for common-sense reform of shed building consent rules. Keep the standards, cut the red tape, and match the rules to the actual risk. Over 70 shed companies and builders across NZ are already backing this campaign. If you've ever been frustrated by shed consent costs and delays — or just think this is worth fixing — add your voice. 👉 freethesheds.org.nz #FreeTheSheds #NewZealand #BuildingConsent
Share on Instagram
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🏗️ New Zealanders can build a 70m² home consent-free — but still need full council approval for a basic shed. That doesn't add up. Free The Sheds is a NZ campaign for common-sense reform. Keep the standards, cut the red tape, match the rules to the risk. Add your voice 👉 freethesheds.org.nz #FreeTheSheds #NewZealand #Sheds #BuildingConsent
Email your representatives
Email the building policy spokespersons directly, or find your own local MP below. We've written the message for both — just add your name and hit send.
ACT Party
Cameron Luxton
Building & Construction Spokesperson
Green Party
Julie Anne Genter
Building & Construction Spokesperson
Labour Party
Arena Williams
Building & Construction Spokesperson
National Party
Chris Penk
Building & Construction Spokesperson
NZ First
Andy Foster
Housing & Infrastructure Spokesperson
Or email your local MP
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Not sure which electorate you're in? Check on vote.nz →
Let's build a New Zealand full of sheds
just like our grandparents did.
Keep the Standards · Cut the Red Tape · Match the Rules to the Risk