Carports
You might not need planning approval to build a carport if it meets all the relevant development standards set out in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (the State Policy). This is known as exempt development.
- A carport cannot be constructed as exempt development on land:
- in a foreshore area
- on or in a heritage item
- on or in draft heritage item.
- if on bushfire prone land, carports must be constructed of non-combustible materials if within 5 metres of a house.
- if in heritage conservation areas (or draft conservation areas), carports must be in the rear yard.
- carports must be at least 1 metre behind the building line facing any road.
More than one carport on a lot
If a lot has one house, only one carport is permitted on that lot. However, if there is a primary and secondary dwelling on the lot, two carports may be provided.
For a full list of development standards that a carport must meet to be exempt development, please refer to these provisions of the State Policy.
Other considerations
- Find out if you are on a bushfire prone land using the Find a Property tool via the Planning Portal homepage.
- If you propose to remove or prune any existing trees or vegetation, you should contact your council first to make sure you don’t need approval for this.
- Works must be structurally adequate, installed in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications and comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA).
- Any structures that would be located on public land, or on or over a public road (including temporary structures), must have separate approval from the relevant council, or Roads and Maritime Services under the Roads Act 1993 and the Local Government Act 1993 .
- Generally , exempt development cannot be carried out on:
- land that is, or on which there is, an item that is listed on the State Heritage Register under the Heritage Act 1977 or that is subject to an interim heritage order under that Act (unless an exemption has been granted under section 57 of the Heritage Act 1977);
- a critical habitat of an endangered species, population or ecological community under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 or the Fisheries Management Act 1994;
- a wilderness area under the Wilderness Act 1987.