Minister for Regulation David Seymour has announced a reform to make it easier for homeowners to build and use garden sheds without council consent.
The rule change will allow homeowners to construct structures such as sheds, sleepouts, greenhouses, and carports up to 30 square metres in size without needing a building consent. The previous limit was 10 square metres.
As quoted by RNZ, Seymour said the existing rules are outdated and impractical, particularly in a time when section sizes are shrinking and the cost of living continues to rise. He argued that requiring people to place sheds in the middle of their lawns or pay for expensive consents to store basic tools “doesn’t make sense.”
Describing the policy as a “common-sense” reform, Seymour said the aim is to give people more flexibility to utilise their land without getting bogged down in unnecessary bureaucracy.
The proposed exemption would apply to non-habitable structures such as greenhouses, carports, storage sheds, and sleepouts, provided they meet basic safety requirements.
Seymour attributed the move to public submissions received through the “Red Tape Tipline,” a platform launched by the Ministry for Regulation to gather feedback on overly burdensome rules.
He said the government is acting on those concerns by removing low-impact regulations and making it easier for New Zealanders to get practical improvements done on their properties.
A technical consultation on the proposed changes is expected to begin later this year, with implementation anticipated once feedback has been reviewed and safety standards confirmed.