01
Plan around the work
Set machinery clearances, bay widths, door positions, storage zones and circulation before detailed design so the shed works as intended on day one.
POLE SHED DESIGN · MANAWATŪ
Pole shed plans & engineering for Manawatū builders.
Pole shed plans, engineering and trusses/rafters for LBP builders delivering farm, machinery and rural sheds around Palmerston North, Feilding, Ashhurst and the wider Manawatū.
Free to join. You only pay when you order. Preliminary pack from $99 + GST. Detailed plans with PS1 from $999 + GST. Turnaround 2–4 days. Consent-level plans, IL2 and customisation cost extra. We'll confirm the price before you commit.
CoveragePalmerston North · Feilding · Ashhurst · Rongotea · rural ManawatūLocal contextCity and district consent pathwaysSite focusWorking rural sites and open plains
01 DESIGN GROUNDED IN THE SITE
MANAWATŪ PROJECTS
Start with the details that change the design.
Manawatū pole sheds often begin with practical operating requirements: machinery access, open bays, storage, circulation and future use. The design brief should connect those needs with accurate site information, council requirements and the documentation needed for the selected consent pathway.
02
Show the site clearly
Manawatū District guidance calls for clear, complete drawings and site information. Levels, contours and overland-flow considerations may be relevant, although requirements differ for some floorless accessory buildings.
03
Support the application
Where consent is required, coordinated drawings, specifications and any relevant professional evidence help the council assess Building Code compliance.
02 FROM BRIEF TO DOCUMENTS
ONE CONNECTED WORKFLOW
Resolve the project before the paperwork multiplies.
ShedSpecs keeps the decisions that shape the shed connected, from the builder brief through to plans, engineering and trusses/rafters.
- 01
Capture the project
Record the site, intended use, building dimensions and constraints that matter to the job.
- 02
Shape the shed
Develop the roof, bays, openings, cladding and internal arrangement in a guided visual workflow.
- 03
Check the pathway
Confirm the local authority, planning context and whether the work needs consent or may qualify for an exemption.
- 04
Move into detail
Submit a resolved brief for detailed plans and, where selected, professional engineering, a PS1, and the trusses or rafters.
03 LOCAL CONSENT CONTEXT
CHECK THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS
One region does not mean one consent pathway.
Manawatū District Council and Palmerston North City Council both publish online application guidance. Their current information stresses clear, correct and complete drawings; professional opinions such as producer statements may support compliance where appropriate. Ashhurst is part of Palmerston North City; Feilding and Rongotea are in Manawatū District.
Manawatū District consent guidancePalmerston North consent guidanceNational pole shed exemption guidance
Council and MBIE links are provided as starting points only. Requirements can change, and every project should be checked against its current site, use and authority.
WHAT THE WORKFLOW CONNECTS
A better-resolved brief. A clearer path to detail.
- Guided visual project setup
- Building layout and use decisions
- Secure project and document access
- Detailed drawing pathway
- Structural engineering option
- PS1 service option
- Trusses and rafters
04 COMMON QUESTIONS
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Useful answers for Manawatū shed projects.
Does every pole shed need a building consent?
No. Some single-storey pole sheds and hay barns in rural zones may qualify for a Schedule 1 exemption when all statutory conditions are met. The site, size, use, span, height, setbacks and wind conditions matter, so the builder and owner should confirm the position for the specific project before work begins.
Who can use the ShedSpecs Pole Portal, and what does it cost?
The Pole Portal is free for Licensed Building Practitioners to join. You only pay when you order. A preliminary pack — preliminary plans and a full material list — is from $99 + GST, and you can skip it and go straight to detailed plans. Detailed plans with a PS1 are from $999 + GST, paid as a deposit and balance. Turnaround is 2–4 days. Consent-level plans, IL2 (Importance Level 2) plans, and customisation of a design cost extra. We'll confirm the price before you commit. You will need your LBP number to create your account.
Do you supply trusses and rafters?
Yes. Along with the plans and engineering, ShedSpecs supplies the trusses and rafters for the shed.
Can ShedSpecs help with structural engineering and a PS1?
ShedSpecs manages the design workflow and document delivery. Structural engineering and Producer Statement PS1 services are provided by Infinity Consulting Engineers Limited as a separate professional service.
Can the design account for machinery and farm access?
Yes. The brief can record machinery clearances, bay layout, door locations and circulation needs so those operational choices remain connected to the design process.
Can ShedSpecs support projects outside Manawatū?
Yes. We work most often with councils across Wairarapa, Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Kāpiti, Manawatū, Horowhenua, Rangitīkei and Tararua, but our documentation is prepared around the New Zealand Building Code and relevant New Zealand Standards, so we can support LBP builders nationwide. Site conditions, district-plan rules and council information requirements vary, so projects outside the areas we work in most often may need additional investigation, documentation or professional input.
FOR PROPERTY OWNERS
Property owner? Ask your builder to use ShedSpecs.
Planning a pole shed on your property in Manawatū? You're welcome here. The Pole Portal is used by Licensed Building Practitioners, so the project itself is set up through your builder. Share ShedSpecs with them and they can take it from there.
Have a question first? Our enquiry form is open to anyone, property owners included.
Send us an enquiryFOR LICENSED BUILDING PRACTITIONERS
Bring the site. Bring the brief.
We'll help connect the detail.
Free to join and design. Preliminary pack from $99 + GST, or detailed plans with PS1 from $999 + GST. You can skip the preliminary pack. Turnaround is 2–4 days. Consent-level plans, IL2 and customisation cost extra. We'll confirm the price before you commit. Have your LBP number handy.