Building a Garage/Workshop close to boundary

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WanaGo

149 posts

Master Geek

#253037 22-Jul-2019 18:52

Hi Guys,

I am wanting to build a garage/workshop at the rear of my property, which will, unfortunately, be very close to the boundary.

My neighbours are good and there is no light impact to them and I am sure they wont have a problem with this. Assume I have their permission/blessing for your responses.

I can access the rear of my property down the side of the house, which is a 4.3m gap from my house to the fence/boundary.

I can only place the garage so the entry basically leads directly into the single garage door. The plan is to have the garage a double, but it will be single entry with workshop to the side.

Is it possible to get building consent if you are say 0.5m from the boundary, if you have permission from the neighbour?

There is no neighbour building next to my new garage location, just bare land.

Does firewall etc stand if there is no building next to the one I am proposing, ie do I have to make that wall fireproof, or is that only the case if the neighbour has a building right over the boundary?

This will be a stand-alone garage, not attached to the house as such, but I do plan to put a covered walkway between the back of my house and the new garage.

Sorry I hope this makes sense.

Thanks

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#2281673 22-Jul-2019 19:09

i suspect it would be a resource consent as it would be outside the councils limits for a building consent.

you need to find out the local planning rules for your area and see if it breaches any of those.

Zeon

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#2281676 22-Jul-2019 19:14

It may need a resource consent as the planning rules will probably say that it must be XX away from the boundary. In Auckland for mixed housing suburban zone that is 1m (disgusting if you ask me - may as well be sitting across the table from your neighbours, its probably further).

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Stu1

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#2281681 22-Jul-2019 19:22

Plus 3 for resource consent, we ended up paying someone to do it for us as I found it complicated. I went for resource consent for 1m from boundary with the local council

Jase2985

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#2281684 22-Jul-2019 19:24

Zeon:

In Auckland for mixed housing suburban zone that is 1m (disgusting if you ask me - may as well be sitting across the table from your neighbours, its probably further).

you forget the outlook limitations which prevent things like that.

a garage backing on to a garage is not really an issue is it.

Bung

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#2281687 22-Jul-2019 19:32

There shouldn't be a Resourse Consent issue as WCC's District Plan for outer suburbs doesn't have any minimum side or rear yard spacing except if there is a neighbouring building they have to be 1m apart.

My neighbour has a Versatile garage alongside our garage which is on the boundary. Our garage has a concrete wall, their's has a double layer of fyreline gib on that wall.

WanaGo

149 posts

Master Geek

#2281750 22-Jul-2019 19:48

Bung: There shouldn't be a Resourse Consent issue as WCC's District Plan for outer suburbs doesn't have any minimum side or rear yard spacing except if there is a neighbouring building they have to be 1m apart.

My neighbour has a Versatile garage alongside our garage which is on the boundary. Our garage has a concrete wall, their's has a double layer of fyreline gib on that wall.

This sounds encouraging, thank you.

We could always do that wall in concrete, that shouldn't be a problem, if that is a requirement. Having Pallaside (plastic weatherboard) like we have on the rest of the house, was going to be the plan. I would assume they would prefer that over seeing concrete block though.

If there is no requirement for space, that would be really helpful.

Ill do some digging, thanks.

Goosey

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#2281778 22-Jul-2019 20:09

Best advice...

Make an appointment with the council planners.

Take your proposed plan and talk it over before you goto the expense of actually getting drawings etc.

Eitherway ya gonna need a consent from them and tick all the boxes to get compliance.

Most councils love it when you go see them. It doesnt waste time/cash later when you find your expensive drafted plans need changing.

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wellygary

8339 posts

Uber Geek

#2281798 22-Jul-2019 20:23

Go and talk to the council and see if you are going to need one of these

https://wellington.govt.nz/services/consents-and-licences/resource-consents/boundary-activities

Handle9

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#2281801 22-Jul-2019 20:23

The biggest issue I can see will be the turning circle so you are not reversing out onto the street.

You will very likely have to have a firewall that close to the boundary but that isn't all that hard if you are building new. If it's a kitset you may be able to get an option for this.

WanaGo

149 posts

Master Geek

#2281810 22-Jul-2019 20:34

Goosey:

Best advice...

Make an appointment with the council planners.

Take your proposed plan and talk it over before you goto the expense of actually getting drawings etc.

Eitherway ya gonna need a consent from them and tick all the boxes to get compliance.

Most councils love it when you go see them. It doesnt waste time/cash later when you find your expensive drafted plans need changing.

Good plan, will do

WanaGo

149 posts

Master Geek

#2281811 22-Jul-2019 20:35

wellygary:

Go and talk to the council and see if you are going to need one of these

https://wellington.govt.nz/services/consents-and-licences/resource-consents/boundary-activities

Thanks ill give this a going over

WanaGo

149 posts

Master Geek

#2281812 22-Jul-2019 20:37

Handle9: The biggest issue I can see will be the turning circle so you are not reversing out onto the street.

You will very likely have to have a firewall that close to the boundary but that isn't all that hard if you are building new. If it's a kitset you may be able to get an option for this.

Not relevant, and not near the road. Have a large concrete pad in front of the house, enough for about 8 cars. Road is about 200m away down a shared driveway.

Planning to build myself, after getting plans, with input from a builder. But will see how things go. I'm and engineer and pretty handy, but will see how it pans out.

Thanks

neb

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#2281836 22-Jul-2019 21:57

Zeon:
disgusting if you ask me - may as well be sitting across the table from your neighbours, its probably further

Friend of mine had this problem, property developer razed the house next door and built a tall house that looks down into their formerly private back yard.

It now looks down on several life-size skeleton horses with human skeletons riding them waving at the neighbour's house. Also a row of skeletons sunbathing in deck chairs, and numerous skeletal dogs.

And then there's the mass of pink flamingos everywhere.

After more than a year, the house still hasn't sold.

mclean

581 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#2281986 23-Jul-2019 09:45

WanaGo: Does firewall etc stand if there is no building next to the one I am proposing, ie do I have to make that wall fireproof, or is that only the case if the neighbour has a building right over the boundary?

You need to fire-rate any wall within 1.0m of the boundary regardless of what's on the neighbour's side. The only ways out of this are to move your garage to 1.0m from the boundary or buy the neighbour's property.

Disrespective

1926 posts

Uber Geek

#2282040 23-Jul-2019 09:56

You might be OK with a Deemed Permitted Activity. See here: https://wellington.govt.nz/services/consents-and-licences/resource-consents/boundary-activities

It replaces the need to apply for a resource consent, but you may still need to apply for a building consent if the scope of work requires it.

That's what i'd be pushing for with the council in any case.

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