Carport Conversion To Habitable Room
Converting a garage to a habitable room is a reclassification to class 1a and will therefore require a development application and approval from your local council before commencement of any work.
Carport conversion to habitable room. A garage is a class 10a building and is considered a non habitable structure as set out in the building code of australia bca. Converting a garage to a habitable room living space a carport or garage may be converted to a habitable room eg. Carport or garage conversion to a habitable room residential design codes r codes the r codes set out development standards to ensure adequate privacy and amenity to be maintained. Converting a patio carportgarage or alfresco to a habitable room definition a habitable room is defined by the national construction code ncc as a room used for normal domestic activities such as a bedroom living room lounge room music room television room kitchen dining room study playroom family room and sun room.
If your intention is to convert a garage into a separate house regardless of who will occupy it then planning permission may be required no matter what work is involved. Planning permission is not usually required providing the work is internal and does not involve enlarging the building. Now thats not a real big deal if youre just parking the mini van under there now and then. When homeowners were feeling cramped in their bungalow style house hgtv expert luis bosch helped them turn their attached carport into an extra room for more living space.
To do this you will need the correct documentation and approvals. It is a government requirement that a garage carport verandah shed or other non habitable space that you wish to convert to a habitable space such as a study sun room bedroom rumpus room or teenage retreat be certified as complying to australian building code standards. The primary requirement for a habitable room is to ensure moisture does not enter into the structure through the floor the walls and the roof. In the situation of a residential property coded r20 the dwelling including any carport or garage must maintain.
A habitable room is defined by the building code of australia bca as a room used for normal domestic activities such as a bedroom living room lounge room music room television room kitchen dining room sewing room study playroom family room and sun room. Bedroom study living area if there is sufficient space elsewhere on the property to provide parking in a complying location.