Do You Need Council Approval for a Garage in TAS?

23 May 2025

Building a garage in Tasmania can help to improve the value of your home, offering a safe and sheltered space for your car. Garages also offer additional storage space, making them a great addition to smaller homes or homes with growing families. But can you just build a garage, or do you need council approval?

Finding the answer to this question can be tricky, as the rules can vary from council to council and state to state. To help you find the answers you need, we have outlined when you need approval and how you can get it.

Garage Approvals in Tasmania

The rules for building a garage in Tasmania vary and can be confusing to follow. Generally speaking, you are free to build a non-prefabricated garage up to 18 square meters on your property. You can do this yourself without a licensed builder or building surveyor needed, and you won't need to notify the council when it is complete. You will, however, need to check planning in your local area to see if there are any specific requirements that you must meet. These requirements can vary from council to council, so be sure to check directly with your local council. You can usually do this online, allowing you to see if your garage can go ahead without approval.

Regardless of whether you need approval or not, your garage will need to be built in line with Australian building regulations. The Building Code of Australia (BCA) sets out regulations that all buildings must follow to ensure your own safety and that of others. You should familiarise yourself with the regulations if you are building the garage or yourself, or enlist a registered and reputable builder who will build your garage in line with the regulations.

When is Council Approval Needed?

When council approval is needed in Tasmania is a little confusing, but we have outlined all the times that you need to seek approval from the council below:

• When building a non-prefabricated garage between 18 meters squared and 36 meters squared, the work must be completed by a licensed builder, and the council must be notified when it is completed.

• When building a prefabricated garage up to 36 square meters squared, you must notify the council when it is complete if it is over 18 square meters squared.

• When building a prefabricated garage larger than 36 meters squared, a professional builder must be used, along with a building surveyor, and the council must be notified when the work is complete.

Should your garage plans fall into any of the scenarios we outlined, you will need to seek council approval once the work has been completed. Before building work begins, you will need to check planning permissions with your local council to ensure that the work can begin. Should there be any restrictions in place, you can find them on your local council's website.

There are some restrictions across Tasmania for anyone looking to build a garage in a bushfire-prone area or a landslip area. If you are building your garage in a bushfire-prone area, you need to ensure that it is separated from habitable buildings, and when you build a garage in a landslip area, your excavations and disposal of stormwater must not increase the risk of a landslip. When building in these areas, we decommend that you enlist the help of a licensed builder who has experience with building in bush ffire-proneor landslip areas. They will ensure that the work is carried out safely and without any determined to the land.

How to Apply for Council Approval to Build a Garage in Tasmania

Applying for council approval for a garage in Tasmania works slightly differently, as you generally only need to notify them once the work is completed. We have outlined the steps that you need to follow to ensure that your garage is correctly built.

Step 1 - Check Planning

Before you do anything, you need to check the planning requirements in your local area. You must do this regardlessof whether you need council approval or not. If there are any planning requirements, you must ensure that you meet these and follow the guidelines for any applications that must be submitted. You can do this directly with your local council, with most councils including this information online.

Step 2 - Hire A Building Surveyor (Where Needed)

You won't need to do this for all garages, but if the size of the garage you are building requires a building surveyor, make sure that you hire one. They will need to ensure that your garage meets the necessary requirements and might offer guidance on any adjustments that must be made.

The cost of building surveyors can vary, so be sure to do your research to find one that best suits your budget.

Step 3 - Build Your Garage

When you are ready, it is time to build your garage. You can do this yourself if your garage is small, but larger garages will need to be built by a licensed builder. You can also obtain a building permit yourself if you have experience building, but there is an additional cost involved with this.

Step 4 - Council Approval

When your garage has been built, you will need to complete Form 80 Notification of Low-Risk Work, which you can find online. The form must be completed in full, including as many details as possible about the garage. You on;y need to complete this form when you have had to notify the council of building your garage, so be sure to check before you have completed this.

The council might require a visit to approve the work and ensure that it does not infringe on any property boundaries or is an issue for neighbours. They might also check that the garage has been built in line with building regulations.

What Happens if I Build a Garage Without Council Approval?

If you need council approval and have not gained it, you might be fined for your garage. In Tasmania, council approval is typically given after the work is completed. If your garage is found to be larger than it is allowed without the necessary paperwork or if it does not comply with planning regulations in your area, you might be fined. You might also be asked to make changes to the garage or demolish it, at an additional cost to yourself.

The same can happen if your garage does not meet the building regulations code. You could be asked to make expensive changes to ensure the safety of yourself and others. To avoid this, we recommend using a professional builder who will ensure that your garage is built safely and correctly.

Start Planning Your Dream Garage Today

Getting your dream garage in Tasmania doesn't need to be an impossible task. Providing you check with your council and aren't building a large garage, you can build it without any council approval. Why not take a look at our Shed designing tool to see how your new steel garage could look? You can play about with the size and design to see what works well with your space before contacting us to bring your dream to life.