Do I need planning permission for a garden room?

We explain everything you need to know about permitted development rights and whether you need planning permission to add a garden room to your home.  

Garden room planning permission – yes or no?

Attractive and versatile, garden rooms are quickly becoming a popular feature in many homes. They create valuable extra space in your home that can be used as an office, gym, or even a bar. At Badbury Group, we specialise in building bespoke garden rooms that are tailored to suit your needs. A common question we get asked, however, is whether planning permission is required for garden rooms. 

The short answer is they generally don’t. Because garden rooms are classed as outbuildings, you’re allowed to build one as long as you have permitted development rights (more on this later) and follow certain rules. 

The rules are as follows:

• Your garden room must not be in front of your home. 
• The total area of all extensions, sheds and outbuildings (including your proposed garden room) must not cover more than 50% of the total area of land around your house. 
• It is single storey and less than 3 metres high (4 with a dual-pitched roof). If you’re building your garden room within 2 metres of your boundary, the maximum height falls to 2.5 metres.  
• The eaves are no more than 2.5 metres above ground level. 
• There is no balcony, veranda or raised platform. 
• It isn’t designed for use as a self-contained living accommodation. 

Exceptions to the rules

Permitted development rules cover garden rooms as long as they are ‘incidental’ to the main dwelling. This means that their use should be a minor accompaniment to the main house. For example, working by yourself in a garden office is more likely to be considered ‘incidental’ use than using it as a base for regular client meetings.  

Likewise, if you plan to use your garden room for activities that you would usually do in your main home, such as cooking or showering, you may need to apply for planning permission. If you are considering adding plumbing to your garden room, it’s worth getting in touch with your local planning office first.  

Permitted development rights – do I have them? 

You may not have permitted development rights if your home is a listed building or situated within a designated area such as a National Park, area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), conservation area or World Heritage Site. Flats and maisonettes don’t have permitted development rights either. 

If you’re unsure, it’s worth checking with your local planning office.  

Want to find out more about garden rooms?

Hopefully this will have answered some of the questions you have about whether you need planning permission for your garden room. If you still have questions, it might be a good idea to get in touch with your local planning office for more information.

Our home improvement contractors are always on hand to answer any other questions you might have so, if you’d like to find out more about our modular and bespoke garden rooms, please get in touch with us on 01202 801391.