Fact Sheets and Information

An owner builder can build a 18sm timber structure non pre fab shed or a 36sm prefab steel shed without a building permit. These types of building work still require a planning permit unless it is exempt under the scheme. For further information visit the Department of Justice and check the Guide to the Building Act 2016 or information is also on the Directors Specified List.
Please contact Consumer, building & Occupational Service for more information by phoning 1300 654499 or email cbosinfo@justice.tas.gov.au

Fact Sheet - Sheds and similar structures Building Act 2016

Are you planning to build a single dwelling and/or a secondary residence (e.g. granny flat or studio)?

Before you start works you must apply to Council with your proposed plans.

A single dwelling and/or secondary residence may be eligible for the Planning Authority to issue a No Permit Required certificate. This means your plans have been assessed and do not need a planning permit.

You must apply to find out if your single dwelling and/or secondary residence design proposal is eligible for ‘No Permit Required’.

WHAT DO I NEED FOR AN APPLICATION?
The No Permit Required application must consist of:

Completed planning application form
Plans/drawings of your proposal (a scaled site plan and elevations of the building)
Current copy of titles, including the schedule of easements, if any.
Fee payment of $150
Download the planning application form and email it, along with your plans/design drawings and the titles to mail@southernmidlands.tas.gov.au 

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Once you lodge your completed application and the assessment fees have been paid in full, a Planning Officer will be in contact with you when your application is ready for assessment.,

Your No Permit Required application will be assessed against the applicable provisions of the planning scheme for the Southern Midlands municipality.  This assessment may take up to 10 business days. 

WHAT IF MY APPLICATION DOESN’T QUALIFY?
Sometimes a single dwelling and/or secondary residence proposals require a planning permit.  If your No Permit Required application does not qualify for the ‘No Permit Required’ certificate, your application will automatically be converted to a planning permit application.  If this happens to your application, a Planning Officer will be in contact with you to discuss the assessment of your application and associated fees.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WITH A NO PERMIT REQUIRED APPLICATION
Dwellings

A dwelling is a building, or part of a building, used as a self-contained residence and which includes food preparation facilities, a bath or shower, laundry facilities, a toilet and sink, and any outbuilding and works normally forming part of a dwelling.

A single dwelling is one dwelling on a lot on which no other dwelling is situated, or a dwelling and an ancillary dwelling on a lot on which no other dwelling is situated.

A secondary residence is an additional residence which is self-contained and:

has a gross floor area not more than 60m²;
is appurtenant to a single dwelling;
shares with the single dwelling access and parking, and water, sewerage, gas, electricity and telecommunications connections and meters; and
may include laundry facilities

ZONING
A single dwelling and/or a secondary residence in the General Residential zone, Inner Residential zone, Low Density Residential zone, Rural Living zone and Village zone may be eligible for a No Permit Required certificate.

You can find out the zoning of your land by looking at the zoning on the PlanBuild website , which can be found here.

SUBMITTING PLANS
The plans/design drawings attached to your application should be professionally drawn.  However, if you can competently draw plans to a reasonable scale (1:100, 1:200), a sketch plan (site plan and elevations) may be accepted as part of your application.

PROPERTY TITLES
The current copy of titles can be accessed through the TheList website.

If you have any questions about the No Permit Required application process, simply contact us.

As a State Election has been called, Council would like to take this opportunity to remind all individuals the regulations regarding election signs.

Under the Tasmanian Planning Scheme – Southern Midlands election signs must meet the following criteria to be considered exempt from requiring a Planning Permit: 

(a) not encroach on any road or other public land; 

(b) have a maximum area of 1.5m2; 

(c) not be erected more than 8 weeks before the polling date; and 

(d) be removed within 7 days after the polling date

With the election scheduled for Saturday 23 March 2024, it is Councils expectation that all election signs are removed no later than 31 March 2024.