Southland District Council’s New Shed Consent Exemptions

If you're planning to build a shed in the Southland District, there's good news! The Southland District Council (SDC) has updated its building consent exemption rules, significantly increasing the size you can build without needing a full building consent.

Contents:

• What's Changed?
• Criteria for Exemption
• Application Process
• Additional Considerations

What’s Changed?

Previously, under New Zealand’s Building Act 2004, sheds up to 110 square meters could be built without a building consent if they met certain criteria. Now, SDC has introduced a region-specific change that allows for single-storey farm sheds up to 500 square meters to be constructed without a building consent, under a discretionary exemption, provided they meet specific requirements.

Criteria for Exemption

To qualify for the exemption, the shed must meet all of the following conditions:

• Location: Must be in a rural zone as defined by SDC’s GIS mapping system.
• Design: Must be designed by a Chartered Professional Engineer with a current registration in structural engineering.
• Structure: Must be single-storey, no more than 10 meters high, and must not exceed 50 meters in length.
• Setbacks: Must be at least 20 meters from any property boundaries, other buildings, and waterways.
• Usage: Must be used solely as an outbuilding (such as a farm building or private garage), not accessible to the public, and not used to store hazardous materials.
• Stormwater: Stormwater from the shed must be contained and disposed of on-site in compliance with Environment Southland’s rules.

If any of these conditions are not met, a full building consent will still be required.

Application Process

Even though a building consent isn't required under this exemption, you must still apply for a discretionary exemption through SDC. This process involves submitting detailed building plans, specifications, and a completed exemption checklist for review.

To get an exemption, you'll need to complete the official Southland District Council farm shed exemption application form, provide building plans prepared by a qualified engineer, and include all required documentation listed in the checklist. The council’s building team will assess your application, and if it meets the criteria, they will issue written confirmation of the exemption.

No construction can begin until you receive that written approval from SDC.

Additional Considerations

• Natural Hazards: If your site is affected by natural hazards such as flooding or land instability, further assessments or conditions may apply.
  
  
• Easements and Paper Roads: Buildings located on easements, unformed (paper) roads, or legal boundaries may not qualify for the exemption.
  
  
• Resource Consent: Some areas may still require a resource consent, particularly if the site is within a Visual Amenity Landscape or an Outstanding Natural Feature.
  
  

Learn More

For detailed information and access to the necessary forms and checklists, visit:

• SDC Farm Shed Exemption Application Form (PDF) - https://www.southlanddc.govt.nz/assets/Building-Services/2024/Building-Consent-Exemption-Form-for-Farm-Sheds.pdf
• SDC Discretionary Exemptions Information https://www.southlanddc.govt.nz/home-and-property/building-services/discretionary-exemptions/

If you’re considering building a shed under these new rules and want help navigating the process, get in touch with the team at Alpine.

We’re here to help you build your Forever Shed. From concept to completion, we support you and make the process easy.