Do I need a permit to build a garden shed?

Do I need a permit to build a garden shed?

Whether you need a permit for your garden shed depends on where you want to build your garden shed.

What if your garden shed is separate from your home?

If your garden shed is separate from your home you do not need a permit if it meets the following conditions:

• It is in your backyard or side yard.
• It is not larger than 40m2 (if there is already another detached building in your garden its surface area must be added).
• The maximum height is 3.5m.
• It is located up to 30m from the house
• A summerhouse in the side garden must be at least 3 meters from the plot boundary
• A summerhouse in the backyard must be at least 1m from the plot boundary or built against an existing separation wall.
• It must not be built in spatially sensitive areas.
   

What if your garden shed is part of your home?

If your garden shed is part of your home, we speak of an extension of the home and then you normally need a permit. If it meets the following conditions, a simple notification requirement is sufficient:

• The garden shed is not larger than 40m2 (if there is already another outbuilding such as a veranda, then its surface area must be added).
• The function of your home / the number of housing units remains unchanged
• It is not higher than 4m
• A garden shed in the side garden is at least 3m from the plot boundary
• A garden shed in the backyard must be at least 2m from the plot boundary or against a dividing wall.

Depending on the municipality or province, additional requirements may be imposed, so you should always check with your municipality to make sure whether or not you need to apply for a permit or get an exemption for building a garden shed.