Understanding building regulations for garden rooms
Garden rooms are a popular addition to many homes, providing additional living space and a connection to the outdoors. A garden room is essentially an insulated building located in the garden, designed for year-round use and intended to add living space to the home [1]. When building a garden room, it is important to consider both planning permission and building regulations [2]. Garden rooms must be single-storey with a maximum eaves height of 2.5 meters and a maximum overall height of 4 meters with a dual-pitched roof [2]. It is also important to ensure that the building does not take up more than 50% of the garden area [3].
Building regulations for garden rooms are governed by 'Permitted Development', which means that in most cases, it is not necessary to gain planning permission before building a garden room [4]. However, there are still regulations that must be followed. Garden rooms may or may not be subject to building control, depending on their design, size, usage, and location [5]. For example, garden rooms more than 15 square meters in size and positioned within 1 meter of any boundary must be constructed with non-combustible materials [6]. It is important to check the regulations on the Planning Portal before starting construction to ensure compliance [5].
Planning permission for garden rooms is generally not required if the building meets certain criteria. For example, if the garden room is located more than 20 meters from the main building and less than 10m x 10m in size, planning permission is not necessary [7]. However, it is important to note that this rule comes with conditions, and it is always best to check with the local council before starting construction [8]. In most cases, garden rooms are classified as outbuildings, which means that planning permission is not required [9]. However, it is important to ensure that the building complies with building regulations to ensure its safety and longevity.
