Planning

Planning Exemption for Garden Room

Build your dream garden room without the hassle of planning permission. In Ireland, you have the freedom to construct a range of structures, including garages, carports, sheds/garden rooms, greenhouses, and kennels for domestic pets, without the need for planning permission. However, it's important to adhere to certain guidelines to ensure compliance with the law.

• Height and Size Limitations: Your garden room must not extend in front of the building line of the house and should not exceed 4 metres in height (if it has a tiled or slated pitched roof) or 3 metres (if it has any other roof type). Additionally, the floor area of the structure should not exceed 25 square metres. It's essential to note that these exempted developments cannot be used for living purposes, commercial activities, or for keeping pigs, poultry, pigeons, ponies, or horses.
  
• Matching Finish: If you plan to construct garages, sheds, or similar structures to the side of your house, it's important to ensure that they match the finish of your house.
  
• Preservation of Private Space: The open private space reserved exclusively for the use of the occupants of the house at the side or rear should not be reduced below 25 square metres.
  
• Window Placement: When adding windows as part of an extension at ground floor level, they should be at least 1 metre away from the boundary they face. This ensures compliance with the required distances between windows and the facing boundary of the adjoining property.
  
• Consultation with Planning Authority: While planning permission is not required for exempted developments, it's always advisable to consult with the planning authority if you have any doubts or queries regarding any planning aspect.
  
• Consultation with Other Bodies: Contact your local E.S.B. office if your proposed works are near existing electricity lines, involve clearance heights under power lines, or if the construction work will bring anyone within reach of the electricity supply to your house. This is especially important if any overhead lines come within 6 metres of the construction works.
  
• Notification to Neighbours: Although not legally required, it's in your best interest to inform your neighbours about the work you intend to carry out on your property. Keeping them informed can help address any concerns they may have, and you may be able to address some of their worries by modifying your proposals. If you or your contractor need to access a neighbour's property, be sure to obtain their consent before doing so.

By following these guidelines, you can confidently proceed with your garden room project, taking advantage of the planning exemption available in Ireland.