How to Build a Shed in Only Three Years – And Do All the Paperwork Yourself
If you’ve ever dealt with council, you already know how painful it can be. And if you haven’t, just ask around. Everyone’s got a horror story.
I’ve never met a single person who’s said, “Yeah, dealing with council was easy.” Not once. It’s always the same story - delays, confusion, missing forms, and red tape that drags on for months.
After more than 20 years building sheds across regional Victoria, I’ve seen every trick, delay, and stall tactic they can throw at you. And I’ve also seen how much time and stress can be saved when you’ve got someone who actually knows the system.
Here are the five biggest council hurdles that slow most shed projects to a crawl, and how a registered builder like Outdoor Steel can keep your project moving.
Hurdle #1: The Endless RFI Loop
When you lodge a planning permit yourself, council has about 30 to 60 days to respond. The problem is, they never come back with everything at once. They’ll send you what’s called an RFI, a “Request for Information.” You fix that issue, send it back, and then the whole clock resets.
Some people go through this cycle for years. In fact, I’ve heard of cases where it’s taken three years just to get a planning permit approved.
How we bypass it:
Because we know exactly what needs to be included, we almost never get RFIs, and councils rarely have a reason to stall us. We give them everything they need up front, so they can’t use the system to slow things down.
Hurdle #2: Poorly Worded or Incomplete Applications
When you apply for report and consent or a planning permit, you often have to justify why your shed doesn’t fit the standard building rules - things like boundary setbacks or height limits.
If you don’t word that explanation right, they’ll bounce it back to you. And if you don’t know the proper way to respond, you’re stuck.
How we bypass it:
Our office staff do this day in and day out. They know the exact wording, documentation, and structure that gets approved. They also know how to follow up and keep council staff accountable, so files don’t sit forgotten on someone’s desk. That alone stops your shed from disappearing into a bureaucratic black hole.
Hurdle #3: The Owner-Builder Trap
If you don’t use a registered builder, you have to be an owner builder.
That means doing the owner-builder course at TAFE, getting your White Card, arranging your own insurance, preparing site plans, and chasing up every single permit yourself.
And most people don’t realise that until they’re already committed and out of their depth.
How we bypass it:
We’re registered builders. That means we handle everything, including design, permits, insurance, compliance, and construction. You don’t have to lift a finger or try to figure it out yourself.
Hurdle #4: No Council Relationships
When you walk into a council office as a homeowner, you’re just another number. They don’t know you, they don’t owe you, and they don’t care how long it takes.
How we bypass it:
Our permit specialists have been dealing with the same councils for years. Each one looks after specific areas, so they know the people, the policies, and the little quirks that make things move faster. When Outdoor Steel’s name is on the paperwork, it gets treated differently, because we’ve built that trust over time.
Even People Who’ve Never Dealt With Council Know How Bad it Can Be
They’ve heard it from a mate, their sister, their neighbour - everyone’s got a story about how frustrating and drawn-out the process is.
It’s one of the biggest fears people bring up when they first talk to us. In fact, I’d say half our clients tell us straight up, “I don’t care if it costs a bit more, I just don’t want to deal with council.”
When you work with us, we take that pain completely off your plate. Our team handles everything, keeps you updated, and deals with council directly. You don’t have to fill out forms, chase deadlines, or talk to bureaucrats. It’s done properly and quickly.
Bottom Line: No One Wants to Spend Three Years in Council Limbo
Everyone hates red tape. It’s slow, confusing, and designed to test your patience.
The truth is, most people don’t want to deal with it, and you shouldn’t have to. You wanted a shed, not a stack of forms and six months of frustration.
That’s why we do it all for you. The permits, the planning, the paperwork, all handled by people who’ve done it a thousand times before.
You’ll never chase council, fill out a form, or wait for a call-back. We deal with council every day, so you never have to stand in that line.
Want to Avoid the Council Runaround Before It Starts?
Before you spend a cent, grab your free copy of The Shed Buyer’s Guide.
It’s a practical, no-nonsense resource that shows you exactly what can hold your shed up, and how to avoid it.
Inside, you’ll learn:
- The key council traps that delay shed builds for months
- How to tell if your site needs planning approval before you even start
- The fastest way to keep your shed project moving without red tape headaches
Get your free guide today and build your shed without the red tape.
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Over the past 20+ years we’ve had the honour of helping more than 5000 homeowners and farmers get a better looking, longer lasting garages and carports. We’d love to help you too by answering your questions and sharing our experience.