Do I Need Planning Permission for a Garden Room?

Garden rooms are one of the most popular home improvements and most do not need planning permission. Under permitted development rights, a garden room is treated as an outbuilding.

• Positioned in rear or side garden
• Single storey
• Eaves height does not exceed 2.5 metres
• If within 2 metres of boundary, total height max 2.5 metres
• If more than 2 metres from boundaries, max 4 metres with dual pitched roof or 3 metres otherwise
• Does not cover more than 50% of garden with other outbuildings
• Not used as a separate dwelling or sleeping accommodation
• No veranda, balcony or raised platform

If used as an annex for someone to live in, planning permission is almost certainly required because it becomes a separate dwelling.

Even without planning permission, a garden room with electrics, heating or plumbing will likely need building regulations approval.