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What are the NSW commercial building requirements?

NSW industrial and commercial building requirements

If you’re looking to construct a commercial or industrial building, there are important things to consider before you get started. While you should always seek out the guidance of a professional before you start on a commercial or industrial building project, there are some basic things that need to be followed when planning out your project.

In this blog we’ve covered new industrial building requirements for the New South Wales area. Read on to find out what you need to consider before you start your project.

Standard building requirements

There are a few essentials that must be met when building your new commercial or industrial building as outlined by the NSW Government. These are:

  • Where you erect your commercial or industrial building must be in a business or industrial zone or Special Purpose zone SP3. The building use must also be allowed in that zone.
  • A building cannot be erected over a registered easement.
  • If the building would increase water demand or waste water, you must notify the water utility of the proposed development. It’s also essential to obtain written notice or advice from the water utility stating any work to be undertaken.
  • New buildings or alterations to existing buildings that are larger than 5000m², and that have access to a road that is located less than 90m from a classified road, will need to obtain a certificate from the Roads and Maritime Services. The certificate needs to state what the impact on the surrounding road network will be.
  • If the land was used for a purpose listed in the Managing Land Contamination Planning Guidelines - SEPP 55 – Remediation of Land, or on the list of sites notified under the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997, a statement issued by a qualified person is required. The statement should certify that the land is suitable for the intended purpose.

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Additional standards for new industrial buildings

There are specific standards that need to be followed for new industrial buildings. These are:

  • A maximum floor area of up to 20,000m² and additions of up to 5000m².
  • A maximum floor space ratio in line with the local environmental plan (LEP), or if not specified it should be 1:1.
  • Building height should also be in line with the LEP or if not specified it should be 15m.

Road setback considerations also need to be made for new industrial buildings. For classified roads which consist of either freeways, state highways, main roads, tourist roads or secondary roads, the road boundary needs to be at least 10m. Proposed classified roads zoned SP2, should be at least 4.5m. On a primary road that is not classed as a classified road, the setback from the road boundary is the average distance of the setbacks of the nearest two industrial buildings that have a boundary with the same road and are located within 40m of the subject lot, or at least 10m, (whichever is the least).

When adjacent to other industrial buildings on the side and rear boundaries, the new building or
addition can be built to the boundary.

Setback requirements for industrial buildingsMinimum setback requirements for industrial buildings. Source

If you’re adjoining your industrial building to a residential lot, a different range of setbacks are required. Buildings less than 1,000m² require a setback of at least 3m from a residential zone. The setback increases to:

  • 4.5m for buildings from 1000m² to 5,000m².
  • 20m for buildings from 5000m² to 10,000m².
  • 50m for buildings from 10,000m² to 20,000m².

As well as different setback requirements, there are also mandatory landscaping requirements (this includes along street frontages). Conditions will be imposed to ensure landscaping meets certain standards in the setback from residential development, landscaping on the site must also be maintained.

A 3m setback at minimum is required for public reserves, environmentally sensitive land and rail
corridors. These setbacks will require landscaping. Development standards cover front façade design elements, car parking, loading, caretaker’s flats, garbage and waste storage, fences, bunding, earthworks and drainage controls.

Setback requirements for industrial buildings adjacent to residential dwellingSetback requirements for industrial buildings adjacent to a residential dwelling, in a residential zone. Source

Other things to consider

Before you get started building your new industrial or commercial building it’s important to remember that all developments must comply with the conditions outlined in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000, as well as the conditions located in Schedule 8 of the policy.

If you will be removing any existing trees or vegetation currently on the property, it’s important that you contact your local council first to check you don’t need consent to do this. Also, if the new structure would be located on public land or on a public road, note that this will require separate approval from either the relevant council, or Roads and Maritime Services under the Roads Act 1993 and the Local Government Act 1993.

For a busy business owner or farmer, the time and resources required to investigate, plan and account for all of these factors can be a barrier to investing in essential buildings. The good news is that it needn’t be! ABC Sheds bring convenience and efficiency to your business with our high-standard industrial steel sheds. We can take the stress of building a new shed away by handling the consent process and ensuring your new building is fully compliant.

Whether you need a new location for your operations or additional storage for your commercial equipment, ABC Sheds can design the right structure that suits your business. We’ll also handle all aspects of your project to complete your building on time. From completing the necessary council forms to erecting your new structure, our team will be there to help. Contact us now to talk about your next project.

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