Do I need a permit for a Melbourne garden shed?

Under 10m² and under 2.4m high: usually no. Anything larger: yes, at minimum a building permit. Heritage overlay: planning permit almost always required regardless of size.

How long does a shed take to build?

Basic Colorbond shed: 2-5 days on prepared pad. Double garage with slab: 3-6 weeks. Premium attached garage: 8-14 weeks. Add 2-6 weeks for permit turnaround.

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Independent Melbourne Guide

Sheds and Garages Melbourne

Name: BuildPilot Adelaide Building Industry Dataset
Creator: BuildPilot
License: https://buildpilot.com.au/terms

Real 2026 Melbourne pricing, when a shed needs a planning permit, and how to spec a garage that lasts 30+ years.

Talk to BuildPilot Melbourne 1300 885 919

By George Giannakakis · B.Arch.Studies · M.Arch (UniSA) · RLA300580

Last reviewed: 5 March 2026 · How we research

Sheds and garages in Melbourne are shaped by three factors: Rescode side/rear setbacks, whether the structure counts as an outbuilding or a habitable dwelling, and Bushfire Attack Level requirements in outer-Melbourne. This guide covers real costs, permit rules and the sub-slab engineering that matters.

Real all-in cost by scope

Small (3m x 3m garden shed): $3,500-$7,500. Standard (6m x 3m Colorbond): $8,000-$16,000. Double garage (6m x 6m detached): $22,000-$45,000. Triple garage (9m x 6m): $38,000-$72,000. Add concrete slab: $2,500-$8,500. Add power + lighting: $2,000-$5,500. Insulation upgrade: $2,500-$6,000.

Planning permit rules

Under 20m² and under 3m high, on standard residential zoning, over 1m from boundaries: usually no planning permit needed. Any of - larger, taller, closer to boundary, in a heritage/bushfire overlay - needs council review. Melbourne outer-growth councils are permissive; Yarra, Stonnington, Bayside, Boroondara are strict.

Sub-slab and footings

A shed only lasts as long as the slab it sits on. Melbourne reactive clay needs 100mm reinforced slab minimum, with N12 bars at 300mm centres. Poor slabs crack within 3-5 years and telegraph through the shed. Spend the $2k extra on engineered slab - it doubles shed lifespan.

Frequently asked questions

Only with a full building permit + planning permit treating it as a dwelling. This includes insulation, waterproofing, electrical to residential code, and often plumbing. Most Melbourne councils treat this as a secondary dwelling / granny flat - see our /granny-flat-builders-melbourne guide.

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Building in South Australia? See the Adelaide version of this guide →

Disclaimer: Pricing ranges are Mar 2026 Melbourne market observations and indicative only. Actual costs depend on site conditions, block access, materials and finish level. BuildPilot is an independent home-build CoPilot and does not build or supply. Always obtain three fixed-price quotes on identical inclusions, verify Victorian building licences via Victorian Building Authority and check planning overlays via VicPlan.