Home building designers in Penshurst: Building a Deck - exempted?

When it comes to building a deck, many asked whether it needs a proper approval. The answer is; yes and no. Depending on what and how you are building it; sometimes it can be exempted.

Under the Statement Environmental Planning Policy, building a carport may be considered as an exempted development. 

Under Subdivision 6 (2.11), it states;

The construction or installation of a balcony, deck, patio, pergola, terrace or verandah (whether free standing or attached to the ground floor level of a building, or roofed or unroofed) is development specified for this code if it is not constructed or installed on or in a heritage item or a draft heritage item or on land in a foreshore area.

What are some of the regulations if I want to build a deck then?

Depending on the size/material/type of deck that you are building, there may be variations to the rules applied. 

Some of the main regulations include (but not limited to):

1. have an area of not more than 25m2.

2. not cause the total floor area of all such structures on the lot to be more than:

(i)  for a lot larger than 300m2—15% of the ground floor area of the dwelling on the lot, or

(ii)  for a lot 300m2 or less—25m2, and

3. not have an enclosing wall higher than 1.4m

4. be located behind the building line of any road frontage

5. have a floor height not more than 1m above ground level (existing)

6. not have a floor area more than:

(i)  for a lot larger than 300m2 in a rural zone or Zone R5—50m2, or

(ii)  for a lot larger than 300m2 in a zone other than a rural zone or Zone R5—25m2, or

(iii)  for a lot 300m2 or less in any zone—20m2

7. be no higher than 3m at its highest point above ground level (existing)

8. be constructed or installed so that any roofwater is disposed of into an existing stormwater drainage system

To learn more about deck exempted development, always seek the local council for advice.