Can I Use a Warehouse as a Gym?

Turning a warehouse into a gym is a popular move, especially in industrial areas with large floor space, easy parking and flexible lease terms.

But before signing a lease or fitting out your gym, it’s essential to understand whether you can legally operate in that space.

In NSW planning terms, using a warehouse for a gym is considered a commercial change of use, and often requires development application approval.

Warehouses are generally approved for light industrial or storage use. Operating a gym is classified as a recreational facility (indoor) under most Local Environmental Plans. This means the proposed use is different from what the site was originally approved for.

You’ll likely need a full DA, including a statement of environmental effects for NSW DA, floor plans, parking layout and compliance with building regulations NSW. A planning consultant can help you determine if the use is permissible under the zoning and if a DA is needed.

As a town planner NSW based, we’ve worked on multiple projects involving gym fit-outs in industrial zones. In one recent case in Western Sydney, a client leased a warehouse in an IN1 General Industrial zone.

Recreational facilities were permitted with consent, so we prepared a DA that included an acoustic report, parking plan and operational statement. Council approval was granted within eight weeks, and the gym is now fully operational.

Zoning is the first thing to check. Not all industrial areas allow gym use. Some restrict it to protect land for employment-generating uses.

A town planner near me specialising in NSW DCP can check your zoning, assess site-specific risks and provide planning advice on how to move forward. If the proposed use is not permitted, we’ll advise on alternative locations or help with a Clause 4.6 variation request NSW if justified.

If your site is near homes, schools or sensitive uses, council may request an acoustic report, traffic assessment or even a heritage impact statement NSW town planning if the building is heritage-listed.

Internal works like showers, disabled access and change rooms must also comply with the BCA. Our town planning services for commercial change of use NSW include coordinating with certifiers and other consultants to ensure your DA meets council standards.

For clients asking how to get a DA approved in NSW for gym use, the process starts with solid preparation.

Whether you're applying for a planning permit NSW, converting a warehouse or launching a new business, working with a NSW town planning consultant for subdivision approval or change of use is the safest and smartest step.