Garden Rooms and Building Regulations
Updated: 13 September 2024
Reading Time: 2 minutes 8 seconds
While Planning Permission may be your primary concern, you also need to consider whether your garden room must comply with Building Regulations.
Building Regulations ensure that structures are built to high standards, are safe for occupation, and are energy efficient.
When Building Regulations Apply to Garden Rooms
According to the Planning Portal:
- Small detached buildings like garden sheds or summerhouses typically do not require Building Regulations if the floor area is under 15 square metres and the building contains no sleeping accommodation.
- For buildings between 15 and 30 square metres, Building Regulations approval is generally not needed, provided the building contains no sleeping accommodation, is at least 1 metre from any boundary, or is constructed primarily from non-combustible materials.
Sleeping in a Garden Room
Although most garden rooms can be built without needing Building Regulations approval, if you plan to use the space for sleeping, even occasionally, the design must comply with Building Regulations.
Not all garden room ranges are designed to meet the regulations for sleeping accommodation by default. If you're planning to use your garden room as an extra bedroom, you’ll either want to consider garden living annexe specialists or work with a bespoke designer who can tailor the build to meet these requirements.
Building a Garden Room Within 1m of the Boundaries
Many homeowners wish to place their garden room as close to the boundaries of their garden as possible. According to the regulations, garden rooms larger than 15 square metres and positioned within 1 metre of a boundary must be constructed primarily from non-combustible materials.
Standard garden room designs often do not meet this requirement, but bespoke companies can adjust the specification to comply. This usually involves replacing timber cladding with cement board cladding and incorporating specialist fire-retardant membranes and plasterboard.
You can discuss your options and any necessary changes to the specification during a site visit.
Plumbing and Electrics in a Garden Room Must Comply with Building Regulations
For garden rooms with more elaborate features, such as a kitchen or shower room, it’s crucial that these elements meet Building Regulation standards. A knowledgeable garden room designer will ensure that the installation follows current regulations and will liaise with Building Control Officers to ensure compliance.
One aspect of Building Regulations that all garden rooms must meet is the electrical system. A certified electrician must install and test the electrics, issuing a certificate once complete. Keep this certificate safe, as it will be required if you sell your property.
Working with Experienced Garden Room Companies
Building Regulation-compliant garden rooms are not standard in the industry, so you’ll need to work with a specialist. This might be a bespoke garden room company or a firm that specialises in garden annexes.
These specialists will guide you through the process and arrange for Building Control sign-off as part of their service.
Costs of Complying with Building Regulations
There are fees involved in complying with Building Regulations, which are usually based on the size and value of the building. While it's difficult to predict exact costs, you can expect them to be in the hundreds of pounds.
