Shade Sails and Outbuildings (Sheds, Garages, Carports)

Shade sails and Outbuildings (sheds, garages, carports)

A shade sail is a structure consisting of one or more flexible membranes, tensioned between anchorage points, for the primary purpose of providing shade.

When is building development approval required?

Shade sails will require a building development approval from a private certifier when the shade sail:

· Has a plan area greater than 10m2; and/or

· Has a height of more than 2.4m; and/or

· Has a mean height of more than 2.1m; and/or

· Has a side longer than 5m in length; and/or

· Is affixed to another structure i.e. is not independently supported.

When are further Council approvals required?

North Lakes

Properties in North Lakes are controlled by precinct plans and sector plans approved in accordance with the provisions of the Mango Hill Infrastructure Development Control Plan (DCP). Customers with a property in North Lakes need to contact Council to speak with a Planning Officer prior to commencing any building work.

All other suburbs in the Region

The proposed location of the shade sail in relation to the property boundaries and the site-specific boundary setback requirements of MBRC Planning Scheme and Council’s Amenity & Aesthetics Policy will determine if a Concurrence Agency approval and/or Amenity & Aesthetics approval from Council are required. (As a general guide the front boundary setback in a suburban area for a covered car parking space is 5.4m and side and rear boundary setbacks are 1.5m).

Concurrence Agency and Amenity & Aesthetics applications incur fees, refer to Council fees and charges. Additional fees are often incurred when a private building certifier lodges these applications on behalf of an owner.

A shade sail is considered a domestic outbuilding when it:

· is detached from the dwelling and does not appear as an integral part of the dwelling i.e. does not form part of the single roof over the dwelling and garage parts of a building, and

· is being used for the purpose of a shed, garage, or carport

Domestic outbuildings may also trigger the requirement for a Concurrence Agency approval if:

· it is built within the nominated property boundary setbacks; or

· exceeds the maximum roofed area for the size of the lot; or

· exceeds the building height requirements.

The above requirements are also applicable to similar structures such as a shade shelter.

What are the consequences if required approvals are not in place?

All Council approvals are required to be in place prior to commencement of construction. It is illegal to build such structures without the required development approvals. Council may issue an infringement ranging from 4 penalty units to 100 penalty units for illegal building work. Please refer to the penalty unit fact sheet available at www.lgtoolbox.qld.gov.au/moretonbayregionalcouncil/penalty-unit for more information about penalty units.

Further information

Information is available via Council’s website:

· Amenity & Aesthetics Policy

· MBRC Planning Scheme

o Dwelling House Code

o Rural residential zone.code

o Rural zone code

For further information and enquiries please contact Council.