Here’s what you need to know:
You don't need planning permission for a cabin, log cabin or seomra/shomera if you can meet all of these conditions:
You only use the cabin as an accessory to the house, so for example: a games room, home office, or sun room.
Want one to live in? There’s another exemption here.
You keep the cabin behind the front wall of your house.
You keep the total area of cabins / sheds / garages on the site to a maximum of 30 square metres.
You don't reduce your back garden or yard below 25 square metres.
You keep the height to 4m for a slated/tiled pitched roof, or 3m for any other roof type.
You keep windows more than 1m from the boundary.
If building to the side of the house, you match the wall finish and roof slates/tiles of the house.
You don't live in it, rent it separately, or use it for keeping animals.
Key areas to watch out for:
Keeping the use of the cabin as "incidental" to the use of the main house is important, so if you are unsure get professional advice.
For example, having it as a home office may be fine, but hosting clients or having staff there crosses into commercial use (which will require planning).
If you plan to live in or rent it, there is a separate exemption for that.
Requirements are different for protected structures and conservation areas - altering the walls or other external features may require planning permission.
Some other important things to consider when planning a build:
Consider using the services of a registered Architect, Engineer or Surveyor who will be familiar with the planning system.
Depending on the size and duration of your project, you may need to appoint project supervisors to ensure your build goes safely.
Still unsure what this means for your project? Get expert, 1-to-1 advice tailored to your build — online and at a time that suits you.
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