Auckland project guide
Do I need consent for a sleepout?
A sleepout is one of the simplest ways to add space for a teenager, guests or a home office. Many sleepouts can be built without building consent, as long as they stay small and simple. Add plumbing or a kitchen and the rules change.
When a sleepout can be exempt
- Up to 10 m²: single storey, no toilet, shower or kitchen, and no drinking-water storage.
- 10 to 30 m²: the same conditions, plus at least 1 m from any house and any boundary. It must use lightweight materials or a kitset, or be designed or built by a licensed building practitioner.
- Sleeping is allowed if the sleepout is used with the main house, has no cooking facilities and has smoke alarms.
When you need consent
- It’s bigger than 30 m²
- You want a toilet, shower or kitchen
- It’s closer than 1 m to a boundary or house (for 10 to 30 m² buildings)
- It’s more than one storey
Sleepout or granny flat?
If you want a self-contained space with a kitchen and bathroom, look at the granny flat exemption. It covers standalone homes up to 70 m² and requires you to notify the council before and after you build. It also needs licensed tradespeople.
What your property can change
Your zone sets rules on site coverage, yard setbacks and height-in-relation-to-boundary. Flood areas, overland flow paths and public pipes can also limit where a sleepout can go.
Common questions
Can I rent out a sleepout?
A sleepout without a kitchen must be used with the main house. Renting it as a separate home brings other rules, including tenancy and healthy homes standards.
Can I add power to a sleepout?
Yes, but a licensed electrician must do the work and give you an electrical safety certificate.