How to Build a Shed

Your go-to guide to buying and building a new shed

Having the right infrastructure is crucial for any agribusiness owner, and a lot of thought has to go into the construction of any new structure on your property, even a simple shed.

With this in mind, Farmbuy.com has developed a comprehensive guide to building a new farm shed. We've covered everything from designing your shed to applying for government funding for the construction process, to ensure that you have all the information you need to buy and build a new shed. 

Preliminary concerns: usage and size of your shed

Sheds can be built in all shapes and sizes, and for a variety of purposes. Before you start planning, let alone building, it’s worth considering some preliminary questions.

• What’s the purpose of your shed? Is it for domestic, farming, or industrial uses?
• How large would you like it to be?
• Where do you intend to build it?
• Will you have enough space to add to it in the future?

Sheds that are under 10 m² in area and less than 3 m in height will not require a permit, but if you're building something bigger than a basic gardening shed, you will probably require council approval.

Regulations for council approval may vary state to state though, and it will be worth checking with your local council what the requirements are -- for example, in Victoria, sheds must be under 3 m in height, over 1 m of the boundary, and not be constructed of masonry to not require council approval. 

There are also some practical questions you should consider, such as:

• How far from the coastline will the shed be built?
• Will it be subject to extreme conditions, e.g. snow, cyclones?
• What is the surrounding area generally like – suburban, semi open, or open plain and exposed?
• Will the shed be built on or near a hill, slope or escarpment?
• Are there existing structures near where you want to build your shed? How far away are these from the site?

These will affect the design of your shed, and may impact the accessibility of the building site by contractors or tradespeople.

Next steps: shed design, approval and construction

After you’ve decided what you want your shed to be used for, what it should look like, and where it will be built, there are a series of steps to take before you can make your new shed a reality.

1. Measure, design, quote and get engineered plans

Now that you have something tangible in mind, you should get in touch with a building company (unless you’re building your shed yourself) or structural engineer to create a more specific design with the right measurements and get a quote for your building.

When searching for a building company, make sure that your chosen shed seller or shed builder is ShedSafe accredited. ShedSafe ensures that shed suppliers and their consulting engineers are designing and building sheds that comply with the Building Code of Australia. This is to ensure that your shed meets the requirements for structural and community safety. There are currently 17 accredited manufacturers and over 350 accredited resellers.

It is important for you to communicate frequently with your builder about what classification your shed falls into, as you will probably need to get council approval. Farm buildings like sheds usually fall into three classes under the National Construction Code of Australia (NCC):

Class 7b: warehouses, storage buildings, or buildings for the display of goods/produce that is for wholesale

Class 8: factory (  building where a process is carried out for trade, sale, or gain; this process can be production, assembling, altering, repairing, finishing, packing, or cleaning of goods or produce)

Class 10a: non-habitable buildings including sheds, carports, and private garages

Sheds can fall into Class 7b or Class 10a depending on occupancy, use, and size. For example, a shed for parking a single tractor is 10a, but a shed for parking a tractor and mechanical farm equipment may fall into Class 7b or 8 if people are employed to use it.

Obtaining a quote, engineering documents, site plans, and shed plans are all critical at this stage.

2. Submit your shed for council approval

Once you have your documents, you can apply for council approval to begin construction. Don't begin building without council approval, as you can face severe penalties for doing so.

After you’ve drawn up a preliminary design with your builder, it’s helpful to get in touch with your local council and have a discussion about your plans. Mention what type of shed you have in mind, what you intend to use it for, and how you plan to access it.

Take on any feedback that the council/building inspectors offer during this discussion and make the appropriate refinements to your preliminary design, communicating with your shed supplier and structural engineers in the process.

Then submit a formal application. This requires the engineering documents that cover the shed and concrete slab, the plan view for your shed, elevations suitable for council submission, and your site plan. If the council does not approve it immediately, tweak your design based on their suggestions and resubmit for approval.

3. Prepare your site and begin construction

Carry out any necessary excavations and foundational preparations your shed will need, such as configuring any necessary plumbing or electrical lines is one such example. When you’re reading, lay down the footings or pour your concrete slab before frame assembly and cladding is installed. Connect internal provisions and fit outs as the final step.

Ensure that your shed meets the safety requirements as legally stipulated by your local government. This means having appropriate ventilation systems, clear access and egress points, a functional fire reels and fire hydrant system, emergency lighting systems, and any other features specific to the type of shed you've built – for example, machinery sheds are required to have concrete floors. 

Check in with your shed supplier throughout the building stages to ensure that these elements are being implemented.

Final considerations: shed costs and financial assistance

The cost of your shed will undoubtedly vary on an individual basis, depending on size and purpose. For example, the average hay shed can start at $30,000 for a roof-only shed but can increase to $140,000 if you want a larger, more covered shed. Machinery storage sheds can amount to well over $200,000 depending on the size, number of sheeted walls, and additional features like sliding doors and lock up bays.

There are other considerations that go into determining the cost of a shed which you may not have considered. During the inspection process to provide a quote, your shed supplier will provide you with information about the site you plan to build on. This includes information such as wind region, topography factor, shielding factor, and terrain category. A key piece of information is the site wind speed, as the lower the wind speed, the less steel required to build a safe shed, and therefore the lower the cost.

If you’re looking for financial assistance, there are a number of programs you can turn to at local and national levels. For example, if you’re a farmer in New South Wales looking to rebuild a farm shed, you may qualify for the Farm Innovation Fund. The program is part of the NSW government’s Drought Strategy to provide long-term, low interest loans for farmers for permanent on-farm infrastructure, with $1 billion allocated. Farmers can borrow up to $1 million per project with a fixed interest rate of 2.5% and a loan term of 20 years. Similar financial assistance programs exist in other Australian states, too. 

On a larger scale, the Regional Investment Corporation offers the Farm Investment Loan. This loan provides low-interest government loans to farmers for any agribusiness-related activity, including refinancing debt to free up cashflow, operating costs, drought preparedness, productivity enhancements, and infrastructure.

The Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment also offers the Farm Household Allowance. The program provides eligible farmers with an assistance package which includes fortnightly income support, funding to develop skills and more. This cashflow can help ease the strain of a large construction project.

Ultimately, the specifications for building a farm shed will vary significantly on a case by case basis, and this article is not exhaustive. It is crucial to double-check regulations, requirements and other specifications with your local council and your shed supplier in order to ascertain all the necessary information before building, but from all of us here at Farmbuy, we hope that this has help you start the process of building your new shed!