Shed Plans Drafting

Shed Plans and Shed Drafting in Perth

A set of shed plans should show where the shed will go, its dimensions, height and construction details. If you have bought a kit shed, the supplier may provide some of these drawings, but you may still need a site plan and additional information for the application. A shed house needs a more detailed set of drawings because it must meet residential building requirements.

The drawings you need depend on whether you are building a storage shed, workshop, garage or home—and the requirements for your property.

What Drawings Do You Need for a Shed?

A typical shed application includes the following:

Drawing	What it shows
Site plan	Where the shed sits on the property, including distances to boundaries and existing buildings
Floor plan	The shed’s dimensions, layout, doors and windows
Elevations	Each side of the shed, its height and roof shape
Sections and construction details	How the relevant parts of the shed will be constructed
Supporting documents	Engineering and other information required for the particular project

The drawings and supporting documents need to describe the same shed. If the floor plan shows one size but the engineering covers another, the application may need clarification before assessment can proceed.

The exact requirements vary by project and council. Wanneroo outbuilding application guidance

The Site Plan: Where Your Shed Will Go

The site plan connects the shed design to your property.

It usually shows:

Property boundaries.
The existing house and other buildings.
The proposed shed.
Distances from the shed to the boundaries and nearby buildings.
Relevant ground levels and the proposed floor level.
A north point.
Other site features that affect the proposal.

Existing sheds, garages and patios should be shown where relevant. They can affect the assessment of the new building.

A fence is not always an accurate guide to the legal boundary. If you are building close to a boundary, reliable property information becomes particularly important.

Our shed boundary guide explains the positioning checks in more detail.

Floor Plans and Elevations

The floor plan shows the shed from above. It identifies the dimensions, openings and any internal divisions.

For a workshop, it is worth considering how you will use the space before finalising the plan:

Can equipment fit through the doors?
Is there enough room to move around a workbench?
Will a vehicle fit comfortably?
Are doors and windows in practical locations?
Does the layout leave enough storage space?

The elevations show the outside of the shed from each side. They show wall heights, roof shape, openings and the relationship to ground level.

These drawings help establish what is proposed and whether its size and appearance meet the applicable requirements.

Construction Details and Engineering

The application also needs suitable information about how the shed will be built.

Depending on the project, this may include:

Footings and the concrete slab.
Columns, beams and roof framing.
Bracing and connections.
Anchoring and tie-downs.
Wall and roof materials.

For a kit shed, some or much of this information may come from the manufacturer’s engineering documents. A custom design or unusual site may need additional engineering.

The documents should clearly identify the components and construction options being used. A manufacturer’s catalogue with several unselected alternatives may not provide a clear description of the proposed building.

Drafting and engineering serve different purposes. The plans describe and coordinate the proposal; the engineering provides the relevant structural design.

Shed House Plans and Drafting

A shed house needs to be designed as a home from the start, even if it uses a shed-style frame or external appearance.

A standard storage shed is generally a non-habitable Class 10a building. A house is generally a Class 1a dwelling, with requirements for residential accommodation.

Buying a shed kit does not automatically make it suitable or approved to live in. WA building classifications

What needs to be shown in shed house plans?

Alongside the site and construction information, a shed house drawing package needs to address the residential layout and relevant building requirements.

This includes matters such as:

Bedrooms, living areas and circulation.
Kitchen, bathroom and laundry facilities.
Ceiling heights.
Windows, natural light and ventilation.
Insulation and energy efficiency.
Moisture protection and waterproofing.
Plumbing and drainage.
Fire separation and smoke alarms.
Bushfire construction requirements, where applicable.

The structural design and residential layout need to work together. Window openings, internal walls and ceiling construction can affect the supplier’s original building design.

Planning the layout

Start with the spaces you need rather than simply dividing a shed into rooms.

Consider where sunlight enters, how rooms connect, where plumbing will run and how the home will be furnished. Allow for the thickness of insulation and internal linings, because the finished rooms will be smaller than the empty shell.

If the design includes a workshop or garage alongside the living area, the intended use and separation between those spaces need checking.

Using a shed supplier’s design

A supplier’s proposal can be a useful starting point. It should be reviewed before ordering so that the frame, slab and construction details suit the proposed residential use.

An existing shed requires a different assessment. Its slab, structure, height and location need checking before a conversion layout is finalised.

Our shed-to-granny-flat conversion guide covers those existing-building checks.

Will the Supplier’s Drawings Be Enough?

Sometimes they cover much of the construction information, but they may not provide everything needed for your property.

Check whether the documents include:

Question	Why it matters
Is the correct shed model and size identified?	The plans and engineering must match what will be built
Is its position shown on your property?	The application needs site-specific information
Are setbacks and levels included?	These help assess the proposed location and height
Do the footing details suit the site?	Standard details may need confirmation or additional design
Is the intended use covered?	Storage, workshop and residential uses can have different requirements

You may need only additional site drawings, or you may need a more complete drawing package. Reviewing the supplier’s documents first helps establish the scope.

Drawings for the Approval Process

The plans are used to assess both the proposed location and construction.

Some sheds need a building permit without a separate planning application. Others also need planning approval.

Where planning approval is required, it must be obtained before the building permit can be granted. The drawing package should reflect any conditions or changes resulting from that assessment.

For the rules themselves, see:

This page focuses on the drawings needed to support those applications.

How Much Do Shed Plans Cost?

The drafting cost depends on the work needed.

A standard kit shed with suitable supplier documents generally involves less drafting than a custom workshop, shed house or conversion.

The main factors include:

The complexity of the design.
The quality of the available property information.
Whether supplier drawings and engineering are available.
Whether planning assessment is required.
The extent of the application work.

A quote should make clear which drawings and submission services are included. Engineering, certification, surveys, assessments and council charges should also be identified where they are separate costs.

How Long Does Shed Drafting Take?

The timeframe depends on the design and the information available.

Missing property details, changes to the layout or additional consultant work can affect when the drawings are ready. Council assessment is a separate stage after the application documents are prepared.

If you have an installation date, establish the drawing and approval timetable before booking construction.

What Information Helps Get the Drawings Started?

The most useful starting information is:

Your property address.
The shed’s intended use.
Proposed dimensions.
A sketch or supplier’s brochure.
Photos of the location.
Existing plans, surveys and engineering documents.

For a shed house, include the rooms you want and whether it will have an attached garage or workshop.

You do not need a finished design. A clear description of what you want to build is enough to begin discussing the drawing requirements.

Shed Drafting FAQs

Do I need a draftsman for a kit shed?

Not always. The supplier may provide suitable construction documents, but you still need to establish whether the application has the required site-specific information. A draftsman can prepare missing drawings and coordinate the package.

Can shed plans be prepared from a sketch?

Yes. A sketch can explain the proposed size and layout. Accurate property information and the relevant construction details are then needed to develop application drawings.

Are shed house drawings different from ordinary shed plans?

Yes. Shed house drawings need to address residential use, including the layout, facilities, energy efficiency and other applicable building requirements.

Do shed plans include structural engineering?

Not necessarily. Engineering may be supplied by the shed manufacturer or prepared by a separate engineer. The drafting quote should explain what is included.

Can plans be prepared for a shed that is already built?

Yes, but drawings alone do not establish that the building is compliant. Existing approvals, construction details and any required inspections need checking.

Read our retrospective shed approval guide for more information.

Can Perth Drafting prepare the plans and lodge the application?

Yes. Perth Drafting prepares shed and shed house drawings and can manage the application process, including coordinating supporting documents where required.