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Adding an outbuilding as a garden office

Rules governing outbuildings apply to sheds, greenhouses and garages. Other rules relate to the installation of a satellite dish, the erection of a new dwelling or the erection or provision of fuel storage tanks.

If you want to put up small detached buildings such as a garden shed or summerhouse in your garden, building regulations will not normally apply if the floor area of the building is less than 15 square metres and contains no sleeping accommodation.

Read more about outbuildings1

The conversion of a garage, or part of a garage, into habitable space will normally require approval under the building regulations.

See more details in our garages conversion section2.

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Useful links

Make an application Planning consultancy calculator
    1. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/outbuildings/planning-permission
    2. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/garage-conversion/planning-permission

    The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). All content © 2024 Planning Portal.

    The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). All content © 2024 Planning Portal.