Building a shed

[shedfooting]

I am planning a new shed, about 6 metres by 9 metres, with 3 metre walls. Kit cost is about $7000. What amases me is the fees to other parties. $519 to council for a planning permit. About $500 to council for a building permit. $660 to a building certifier to give it all the final OK.
Nearly $1700 in fees to build a shed costing $7000.

The engineering certificate cost is built into the kit cost.

Am I doing something wrong here? Should I be doing something differently?

Yes, it is a bike shed, and an area to play with some welding gear, panel tools, and something old and battered with 4 wheels. And some wood stuff

[wun4us]

Its all called, says the council "abide with me".

A rip off in anybody's terms.....that much would likely put the power on the shed.

[jimfish]

Just gone through the same thing. Any wonder the locals called me crazy for going the legal route.Any additions from here on in wont be going through council

[wun4us]

Just gone through the same thing. Any wonder the locals called me crazy for going the legal route.Any additions from here on in wont be going through council

And when the right thing is done, mistakes are made then by those who approve the project (like building on a concrete slab over a sewer line) and then at some later date when another project is submitted, noticing the mistake and expecting it to be corrected!

No way Jose!

[Robson Valley]

I don't think that councils get elected on a track record of being intellectual giants.
If there's any thoughtfulness at all in your project, you will have to shoulder the full load.
Might be amusing to inquire about an accounting of the fee functions.

[cossi]

wow that's crazy!!! admitedly my shed is 2/3 the size (6x6) but i didn't have any of the aditional extras you were talking about. $160 for council and it was aproved in 8 days.... i thought my council was a rip off too.

are you sure you need the planning and building permits, it's not a house!!! unless you told them it was to have water ect and they think it's going to be a bedroom at some time...

it just shows how much they all vary huh.

That amount would pay for a fair chank of your concrete ect... I really hope you have more fun than me putting it up!!!!

The other thing - haggle with ur shed - it's so tight out there you should be able to get a better price than u originally get quoted (i got 1500 knocked off). but 7K sounds bloody great for that size and height!

[Scally]

I wish I lived in Perth or Tasmania......

6m x 6m shed and 9m x 3m pergola.
Slab and timber frame.

Consultant plans for council and council fees......$4,000.
This includes Council inspection fees for the work.
Engineers plans .......$900
Surveyors certificate to confirm slab is on my property.......$550.

and that is before I have anything resembling a shed!!!!!!


I was very tempted to give council a miss.
The problem would be if I decided to sell the house, the council could cause a problem. Maybe want the shed removed?

[banjoping]

I wish I lived in Perth or Tasmania......

6m x 6m shed and 9m x 3m pergola.
Slab and timber frame.

Consultant plans for council and council fees......$4,000.
This includes Council inspection fees for the work.
Engineers plans .......$900
Surveyors certificate to confirm slab is on my property.......$550.

and that is before I have anything resembling a shed!!!!!!


I was very tempted to give council a miss.
The problem would be if I decided to sell the house, the council could cause a problem. Maybe want the shed removed?

It will certainly create problems with any thorough purchaser- if they have had their due diligence done they would realise the shed is not approved and this in all likelihood would affect settlement.

You can apply for retrospective Approval in many cases, but will prbably involve the same if not more cost, put the shire off side at the time when you most need them, and create stress and anxiety in a period (settlement) where timing is everything.

[Gishlish]

Wow. I thought it was expensive here.


As examples, council consent fees for the last two sheds I put up cost:


$327 for an 8 x 18 lean to with 3.4 - 4.2 m walls;
$624 for a 9 x 13 lean to with 3 - 3.9m walls;


Admittedly the sheds were in different (adjoining) districts.

[SAISAY]

After our house was rebuilt, we wanted to put the old front verandah up again.
Yay Yay Yay the council said, more money in our coffers.
We didn't have approval to demolish it, even though the house was demolished by the cyclone = demolishing fee.
Putting the old verandah up again = soil testing, engineers fee, planning approval, building approval, inspection fee and another fee because, in council's opinion, the verandah is too close to the front boundary and we needed dispensation.
All in all, to put the OLD verandah (3m x 6 m) back up again cost us about $2.000 in fees.

Wolffie

[Sawdust Maker]

It will certainly create problems with any thorough purchaser- if they have had their due diligence done they would realise the shed is not approved and this in all likelihood would affect settlement.

...

Yeah had somebody try that with me - selling house, purchaser's solicitor rings up and says "pergola isn't approved"
I replied "I'll come and take it down if it's a problem"
He says "no no leave it"
Settlement proceeded without a problem

[banjoping]

Yeah had somebody try that with me - selling house, purchaser's solicitor rings up and says "pergola isn't approved"
I replied "I'll come and take it down if it's a problem"
He says "no no leave it"
Settlement proceeded without a problem

haha, sometimes these things work themselves out. I guess you need to weigh up the risks.

I know myself I'd rather go through a bit of pain now and avoid something that could ultimately hold up a process (settlement) that is, even in the best of sales, stressful.