Garden Room Planning Permission in Ireland

Garden Room Size Limits Without Planning Permission

We have good news! You can build a garden room up to 25 sq. metres (270 sq. ft.) without needing planning permission Ireland regulations, as long as you leave 25 sq. metres of free space in your garden. If you plan to add a house extension in the future, ensure you maintain this free space even after both the garden room and extension are built. The 25 sq. metre free space requirement can be combined between the side and rear of your house.

Neighbour Considerations & Boundary Guidelines

While you don’t need permission from your neighbours to build a garden room within the 25 sq. metre exemption, it’s a good idea to inform them out of courtesy. Notifying them can ease any concerns about the structure you’re planning to build and help maintain good relationships.

Garden Room Height Restrictions in Ireland

You are permitted to build a mono pitch or single pitch garden room roof construction up to 3m in height, or a slated or tiled pitched roof up to 4m, in line with planning permission guidelines in Ireland. Whether you choose a mono pitch or pitched roof, it’s important to keep these height limits in mind to ensure your garden room remains within the legal exemption and does not require additional planning approval.

Window Placement & Privacy Regulations

You are not allowed to put a window within 1m of your neighbour’s boundary when building your garden room or outdoor structure. By ensuring that windows are positioned at least 1 meter away from the boundary, you can maintain good relations with your neighbours while still enjoying natural light in your garden room. 

Building a Garden Room at the Side of Your Property

If you decide to build your Garden Room to the side rather than to the rear of your property it is a requirement that you either screen the building with fencing, bushes or trees, or you are required to make it compatible with the front of the existing building, to meet the  exemption rules.

How Existing Structures Affect Planning Permission

If you have an existing timber or block shed, it may use up some of your 25 sq. metre exemption. However, if you have a garage or shed that was included in the initial house planning permission granted when your house was built, you will still be eligible for the exemption of the 25 sq. metres for your Garden Room structure.