Do You Need Garden Room Planning Permission?

Do You Need Garden Room Planning Permission?

Have you been dreaming of a garden room and are ready to add one to your outdoor space? It's a great choice and a top garden upgrade. Contemporary garden rooms are an excellent choice if you want more space but don't want to go down the traditional extension route.

We have put together this guide to answer the top question people have: “do you need planning permission for a garden room?". If you want to buy a garden room, all the information you need about the garden room planning permission is here!

What Is A Garden Room Planning Permission?

Many people would love more space but want to avoid moving or going through the hassle of home renovations. And this is why a garden room is a perfect solution!

Garden room designs are customisable to be built to your specific requirements. A bespoke garden building is ideal for anyone looking to add more functional space to their home. In most cases, garden rooms are classed as outbuildings, so you won't have to seek any planning permission to build your space. However, this applies to you only if you have permitted development rights at your home or in your area.

Some things that can affect the need for garden room planning permission include:

Where do you intend to position the garden building
Garden room size
Intended use for your new garden room

Your new garden room will fall under permitted development rules, and as long as your chosen garden room fits within these parameters, no permission is needed! Permitted development represents the rights you have about the land you own. So, you most likely won’t have these development rights if you live in a flat or maisonette!

Does A Garden Room Fall Under Permitted Development?

The rights cover anything that is an addition to the main home and incidental to the property. However, "incidental" can be up for interpretation. So, the best choice is to check with your local authority before committing to a new garden room installation.

A good place to start is to consider how your new garden building will affect the surrounding area. Could it disrupt the neighbours or community? What you intend to use it for will have an impact, so it's essential to know this before adding the building to your garden.

Garden Room Boundary & Height Planning Requirements

Garden rooms ranging from 15 to 30 square metres in internal floor area must be at least 1 metre from any boundary. Consider this when considering where to place the new room and if that works with its intended use.

Small garden rooms have slightly different rules. If your garden room is up to 15 square metres in internal floor area, it can be placed within 1 metre of the boundary.

When positioned within 2 metres of your property boundary, the garden structure's maximum height is limited to 2.5 metres. It's important to note that if the structure's base is elevated, this elevation must be included within the 2.5-metre height restriction. These guidelines ensure that the height regulations encompass any potential elevation of the structure's base, maintaining compliance with the specified height limit.

Garden Room Office Planning Permission

If you are thinking of creating a workspace in your garden by adding a garden room, planning permission may or may not be needed.

For example, if the space is somewhere for you to work quietly on your own, that will be fine and will unlikely need planning. However, if you intend to set it up as a working business with colleagues or other people coming and going, that's a different matter.

Garden Room Planning Permission For Leisure Purposes

If you add a garden building as a space for the family to use for leisure, you will likely not require planning permission.

Adding a garden room as an art studio, craft space, or games room is not usually a matter for the planning department. As with everything, though, there are exceptions. The rules in your area may be strict on what is permitted, so enquire with your local planning office before proceeding with the installation.

General Rules For Garden Rooms

Most issues regarding a garden room planning permission are the location and size of any intended addition. There are some general rules to follow when adding outbuildings to your property, which include:

The garden room must be single storey
The structure can’t be higher than 2.5m if located within 2m of your property boundary
The total area of the building can't exceed more than 50% of the area around your house
Not to be used as self-contained living accommodation
The garden room can't be placed in front of your home

Generally, following these rules will remove the need for a garden room planning permission. However, to ensure you comply with all of the regulations in the area, it is always best to check with your local authority.

We have a wide range of garden rooms that don't need planning permission, so if you want more information, don't hesitate to contact us. Browse our high-quality garden rooms to find the garden building of your dreams today