Building a farm shed in Queensland?
Do I need council permits? Are there any government grants available? What is the cyclone rating?
These are some of the questions you should be asking before construction begins.
Quality farm infrastructure is a must-have in the Sunshine State, whether it is feedlot shade and cattle yard covers in the Downs regions or on-farm storage for livestock and cropping enterprises across the state.
And there are a number of details that need to be addressed in the planning stage to set your project up for success.
From cyclone ratings and council permits to best-practice designs, this article will help you make sure you have covered all the important points.
Top 3 Questions To Ask When Building A Farm Shed In Queensland
Let’s take a deep dive into what is involved in building a farm shed in Queensland.
First up, we discuss everyone’s favourite topic – farm shed permits!
1
Will My Farm Shed Require Council Permits?
We tapped project manager Allan Crick for his insights on council permits for farm sheds in QLD.
So, will your project need permits?
The short answer is yes. As a general rule – like Victoria – the majority of farm sheds built in Queensland will require some level of council permits or approval.
The longer answer is:
In Queensland, smaller sheds under 10m² are usually exempt from council approval, however requirements such as boundary setbacks still apply.
For larger farm sheds, a building approval application will likely need to be lodged with the local council.
To help ensure a successful application, your shed will need to comply with both the Queensland Building Code and any local council regulations such as zonings, site overlays and boundary setbacks.
Often these regulations will vary from council to council – but the application process is usually consistent.
As Registered Builders in Queensland, our projects team can apply for the permits for your project on your behalf, including collating and submitting the required documentation. This helps streamline the process and avoids project delays.
Or if you are happy to tackle this task yourself, we can provide the required plans and design documentation for you to submit.
Please note, this is a very general overview of farm shed permits in Queensland.
If you would like information specific to your project, please call us on 1800 687 888 – we would be happy to help!
You may also be interested in this article – What Happens If I Build A Farm Shed Without Permits?
Next up, is one of the most important considerations for any building project in QLD – cyclone ratings!
2
Is My Shed In A Cyclone Region?
Identifying the wind region that your farm shed is located in is an important step as it will impact the engineering and cost of your project.
There are four wind regions in Australia:
- A: This encompasses Australian inland areas and most of the southern coastline, and is usually non-cyclonic. This includes sub categories 0 – 5 which are determined by factors like wind direction.
- B: Also considered non-cyclonic or “intermediate”, this region lies within 50km – 100km of the coastline above 30° Latitude. It does not include the southern coast. This region has been adjusted to in recent years to include B1 and B2.
- C: A cyclonic region above 25° Latitude and within 50kms of the coast.
- D: A very specific cyclonic area along the west coast of Australia.
Often there are a number of other details to consider along with wind regions – particularly if your shed is in a cyclone region or the site is exposed – such as:
- Wind Rating Classification
- Terrain Categories
- Topographic Effect – this is the effect of wind on a structure due to its location
- Shielding Factor
- Importance Level – this measures the level of consequences in the event of a building failure
While these may not all be applicable or relevant to your farm shed project, you can rest assured that every Action shed is individually assessed, designed and engineered to meet the unique requirements for your site location.
3
What Farm Shed Grants, Loans & Write-Offs Are Available In QLD?
- Disaster Assistance Loans
- Drought Preparedness Grant
- Sustainability Loan
- Drought Ready & Recovery Finance Loans
And you can read more about these here – 4 Grants & Loans For Farm Sheds In Queensland
Plus, there are a number of incentives that are available Australia-wide which you many be able to take advantage of. These include:
- Instant Write-Off For Fodder Storage Assets
- RIC Drought Loan
- RIC Farm Investment Loans
- RIC Agri Starter Loans
You can learn about these here – Grants, Loans & Tax Write-Offs For Farm Sheds
Well that’s a wrap on the top 3 questions to ask when building a farm shed in Queensland.
To help you get your farm shed project planning underway, check out the resources below
Useful Resources
Farm Shed Project Inspiration Gallery
Regardless of whether you are building a large scale grain shed, putting a roof over your cattle yards or expanding your general on-farm storage, checking out what others have done is a great way to get ideas.
Browse the gallery below – and view more of the latest builds here.
If you found this article helpful, check out the Learning Hub for more farm shed content – brochures, videos and storage calculators.
Or if you are looking for advice on building a farm shed in Queensland, give us a call. We would love to hear from you and help you with your project planning.