One of the most common questions we get is, “Do you need planning permission for the garden room?” and the answer isn’t always a straightforward yes or no. There are a number of rules that must be followed when building on your property without a zoning permit. Essentially, all outbuildings must adhere to permitted development regulations; our work adheres to these regulations.
Do you need planning permission for a garden room?
Most garden room and buildings do not require planning permission if they follow building codes and permitted development guidelines. In summary, the building must not be designed for overnight accommodation and must be less than 2.5m tall in order to be exempt from planning permission.
Guidelines and considerations for garden room permitted development
When building a garden room without planning permission, there are a few major factors to consider. This includes the following:
The maximum height
Your garden room must be one-story with an eaves height of no more than 2.5m from the ground. You can build up to 4 metres for a gable or 3 metres for all other designs, including your roof. However, without planning permission, the total height of your garden room, including the roof, is limited to 2.5m when built within 2 metres of the boundary.
Total surface area
Without outbuilding planning permission, you are not permitted to build on more than 50% of your land surrounding the original house. The term “original” house refers to any previous home extensions or outbuildings built on the property since 1948, including those built by previous owners.
Location
You must not build your garden room in front of the main elevation of your house (what is commonly referred to as the front of the house) or to the side of your house without first obtaining planning permission. It also cannot be built any closer to a public road or footpath than the property itself.
Use of the garden room
You can use a steel garden room for daily living without obtaining planning permission, but not for overnight or self-contained living accommodation. You are also not permitted to install an antenna on the exterior of your garden structure.
Balconies and verandas
Garden room verandas, balconies, or raised platforms are not permitted; any raised decking must be no higher than 3cm in height. The main reason for this is privacy, as a raised platform may interfere with neighbours or block views from other gardens.
Look our permission page
GARDEN ROOM PERMISSION FAQ
What size garden room do I need without planning permission?
If your garden room is more than 20 metres from your main building and less than 10m x 10m in size, you can build without obtaining planning permission. With planning permission, you can construct a garden room larger than 10m x 10m.
Can I build a garden room within 1m of a boundary?
If your garden room is less than or equal to 30 square metres and is within one metre of the property boundary, the materials used must be primarily non-combustible.
How big can a summer house be without planning permission?
Summerhouses and garden rooms, for the most part, do not require planning permission. Permission is required for any summerhouse that covers more than half of the garden, is not for domestic use, or is more than 3 metres high with a pent roof or 4 metres high with an apex roof.
