It’s one of the most common questions we get asked – do I need planning permission for my garden room? Usually the answer is no, but there are some exceptions. Read on to see if you’ll need permission before installing your garden room.
Standard use garden rooms
Most garden rooms are classed as outbuildings and therefore do not require planning permission before you install one. However, this only applies if you hold development rights for your property. In some cases, where people live in flats, apartments, maisonettes, or are tenants in a property, they won’t hold the permitted development rights.
Sometimes, the development rights that cover outbuildings can be difficult to decipher too. For a garden room to fall within permitted development rights, it must be incidental to the property. This means it is an addition to the main home and doesn’t cause any disruption to the community on a regular or on-going basis.
So, a garden room home office where you work independently would fall under permitted development rights. But a garden room transformed into an office or shop with multiple visitors per day that causes an increase in parking and noise would not be covered.
Garden rooms with bathrooms
If you are fitting your garden room out with a bathroom that includes running water and facilities such as a toilet or shower then it’s no longer classed as incidental to the main property. Sometimes people use garden rooms for guest accommodation or self-contained living spaces and so you’d need planning permission to use a garden room in this way.
If you are unsure about the permission needed to install your garden room, it’s wise to ask the council before you start building. When speaking with the council, always be honest about what your garden room is going to be used for. You could be asked to seek planning permission retrospectively, and if denied you’d have to take your garden room down.
Things to plan before you install a garden room?
Whilst most garden rooms do not require planning permission, there are some things to think about before you install one.
What will it be used for?
The most important thing to think about is how you will use your garden room. Are you planning to use it as a home office? If so, you’ll need to make sure you can access your home wifi. Planning to keep expensive equipment in there? Then you’ll need to install the right security measures to protect your valuables too.
Placement of your garden room
Spend some time thinking about the best spot in your garden for the building. Do you want somewhere that gets lots of sunlight? Do you want your garden room as far away from the house as possible so it feels like you have a bit of a commute before work? Or perhaps your garden room will double as a playroom for the kids, so you want to be able to keep an eye on it while you’re inside the house?
Now that you know if you need planning permission, it’s time to find your ideal garden room. Take a look at our full range of garden rooms and order online.