Garden Room Building Regulations – What You Need to Know

18th November 2021

Garden room building regulations can feel like a minefield when you’re planning to build a garden structure. In some cases you can build without planning permission, but it can feel like the information surround it all is unclear.

This article will clear up any queries you may have around garden room building regulations. That way you can gain some peace of mind before going ahead on any building work.

Garden Room Building Regulations – Your Questions Answered

Anyone who is looking to build a room in their garden needs to check the laws. Aside from looking into general research, it’s always best to check local laws and ask your local council if in doubt. Most of the answers to the commonly asked questions are quite straightforward and have very clear parameters.

The main rule of thumb should always be, if in doubt – ask!

Please note, some rules differ for those who live on designated land.

Do I need planning permission to build in my garden?

In most cases, it is not necessary to gain planning permission before building a garden room. This rule does come with conditions though. The garden room must be no higher than 2.5m from the bottom of the building top of the roof, it must not take up more than 50% of your garden area, and cannot be used for living and sleeping in.

So if you’re hoping to build a big granny flat at the back of your garden then you’ll need planning permission, but if you’re after a summer house or a garden office, then you won’t unless you don’t follow those rules stated above.

How big can a garden room be without planning?

As mentioned above, the garden room cannot be taller than 2.5m from the bottom to the top of the roof, and it must be a single storey. The overall size of the room is dependant on the size of your garden. As it cannot take up more than 50% of the garden space, what might be permissible for someone with a large garden might be against the rules for someone with a small garden.

It is also worth noting that you are not allowed to have verandas, balconies or raised platforms when building a garden room without planning permission.

How far does a garden room need to be from the boundary?

While you can build a garden room as to close to your boundary as you’d like, it cannot be taller than 2.5m in height if it falls within a 2 metre distance from your boundary. Bear this in mind for if you are building at the very end of your garden, as it is likely you’ll have three boundaries to content with – one either side and one at the back.

Can I put a toilet in my garden room?

It is possible to put a toilet in your garden room (providing the logistics work out and sufficient water supply and drainage is available). A garden room with a toilet in does need to be signed off by building regulations. This means if you’re wanting to build a garden room without worrying about building regulations, it might be a safer bet to leave a toilet off the plans.