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These regulations may be cited as the Urban Drainage (General) Regulations 2026 .
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Tasmania regulation
These regulations tell who and what is treated as a ‘prescribed structure’ under the Urban Drainage Act by listing small, low-profile items (decks, pergolas, small pools, masts, fences, site sheds, walkways) and the size, height and distance limits that keep them outside regulation. They affect property owners, builders and building surveyors: owners bear the cost of measuring and siting works to meet thresholds; building surveyors decide some storage permissions; the Department administers compliance. Behaviour change: avoid placing excluded structures within 1 metre of a public stormwater access or edge.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Urban Drainage (General) Regulations 2026.
These regulations may be cited as the Urban Drainage (General) Regulations 2026 .
These regulations take effect on 24 March 2026.
In these regulations –
Act means the Urban Drainage Act 2013 ;
building surveyor has the same meaning as in the Building Act 2016 ;
building work has the same meaning as in the Building Act 2016 .
(1) For the purposes of section 13(1) of the Act and subject to subregulation (2) , a prescribed structure means any structure other than the following:
(a) a non-roofed deck that –
(i) is made of timber products; and
(ii) is not more than one metre above finished ground level; and
(iii) is not situated within one metre laterally from the outer edge of a public stormwater system;
(b) a pergola, garden arch, trellis or frame if the structure –
(i) does not exceed 20 square metres in total area; and
(ii) is not more than 3 metres above finished ground level at its highest point; and
(iii) is not covered or is covered only by open-weave material which allows water through;
(c) a swimming pool or water feature if –
(i) the maximum possible water surface area is not more than 9 square metres; and
(ii) the maximum possible water depth is not more than 300 millimetres;
(d) a non-roofed windmill or a mast, antenna or flagpole or a support structure of a wind turbine if the windmill, mast, antenna, flagpole or support structure –
(i) is not attached to a building and is not more than 6 metres high; or
(ii) is not situated within one metre laterally from the outer edge of a public stormwater system;
(e) a fence or wall, constructed of masonry or concrete, that is not higher than 1.2 metres;
(f) a fence or wall, constructed of material other than masonry or concrete, that is not higher than 2.1 metres;
(g) a builder's site shed that is –
(i) being used in connection with building work for which a building permit is in force; or
(ii) being stored in a location permitted by the relevant building surveyor;
(h) a permanent walkway, or platform, that –
(i) is not part of a building; and
(ii) is less than one metre above finished ground level; and
(iii) members of the public normally use or are permitted access to.
(2) A structure referred to in subregulation (1) is a prescribed structure for the purposes of section 13(1) of the Act if it is situated within one metre laterally from the outer edge of a clearly identifiable public stormwater system access point.
Displayed and numbered in accordance with the Rules Publication Act 1953.
Notified in the Gazette on 24 March 2026
These regulations are administered in the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania.
Sourced from Tasmanian Legislation Online (legislation.tas.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
These regulations may be cited as the Urban Drainage (General) Regulations 2026 .
These regulations take effect on 24 March 2026.
In these regulations –
Act means the Urban Drainage Act 2013 ;
building surveyor has the same meaning as in the Building Act 2016 ;
building work has the same meaning as in the Building Act 2016 .
(1) For the purposes of section 13(1) of the Act and subject to subregulation (2) , a prescribed structure means any structure other than the following:
(a) a non-roofed deck that –
(i) is made of timber products; and
(ii) is not more than one metre above finished ground level; and
(iii) is not situated within one metre laterally from the outer edge of a public stormwater system;
(b) a pergola, garden arch, trellis or frame if the structure –
(i) does not exceed 20 square metres in total area; and
(ii) is not more than 3 metres above finished ground level at its highest point; and
(iii) is not covered or is covered only by open-weave material which allows water through;
(c) a swimming pool or water feature if –
(i) the maximum possible water surface area is not more than 9 square metres; and
(ii) the maximum possible water depth is not more than 300 millimetres;
(d) a non-roofed windmill or a mast, antenna or flagpole or a support structure of a wind turbine if the windmill, mast, antenna, flagpole or support structure –
(i) is not attached to a building and is not more than 6 metres high; or
(ii) is not situated within one metre laterally from the outer edge of a public stormwater system;
(e) a fence or wall, constructed of masonry or concrete, that is not higher than 1.2 metres;
(f) a fence or wall, constructed of material other than masonry or concrete, that is not higher than 2.1 metres;
(g) a builder's site shed that is –
(i) being used in connection with building work for which a building permit is in force; or
(ii) being stored in a location permitted by the relevant building surveyor;
(h) a permanent walkway, or platform, that –
(i) is not part of a building; and
(ii) is less than one metre above finished ground level; and
(iii) members of the public normally use or are permitted access to.
(2) A structure referred to in subregulation (1) is a prescribed structure for the purposes of section 13(1) of the Act if it is situated within one metre laterally from the outer edge of a clearly identifiable public stormwater system access point.
Displayed and numbered in accordance with the Rules Publication Act 1953.
Notified in the Gazette on 24 March 2026
These regulations are administered in the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania.