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Get permission for an outbuilding or shed at your council home

Find out what garden buildings and improvements you do and don't need to get permission for, and apply for permission to make an improvement.

If you are planning on installing or replacing a shed or other outbuilding in your council home's garden you will need to get permission from the Housing Team.
 

Things you'll need to get permission for

You'll need to get permission if you want to:

  • put up a shed
  • put up a garage
  • put up a greenhouse
  • install a satellite dish
  • add a porch
  • install a fishpond
     

What you can't install

You will not be allowed to install a:

  • raised platform
  • balcony
  • veranda
  • conservatory
     

Get permission to make your improvements

Apply to the Housing Team if you need permission and it's an improvement we allow.

Complete a  permission request form (PDF) [209KB] .

If your rent account is in arrears you will need to get your payments up to date before we will consider your request for improvements or alterations.

 

Other permissions you may need

You may also have to apply for building regulations and planning permission depending on what you want to install.

Authorisation from these departments does not mean that you have permission from the Housing Team.

 

What happens next

We'll look at your application and get back to you within 10 working days.

 

Find out more about garden sheds and outbuildings

Limits and conditions

Outbuildings and garden sheds are considered to be permitted developments.

Whilst they typically won't require planning permission before construction can get underway, there are certain limits and conditions that need to be considered.

Outbuildings:

  • should cover no more than half of the area that surrounds the original house
  • are not allowed on land in front of a wall that forms the principal elevation
  • will require planning permission if they are within the curtilage of a listed building

Shed height 2.5m

Garden sheds and outbuildings must be one storey, and eave heights cannot exceed 2.5 metres.

Shed height 3m and 4m

 

Overall height cannot exceed 4 metres if a dual pitched roof is present or 3 metres with any other type of roof.

Shed boundary limits

If a garden shed will be situated within 2 metres of a dwelling house boundary, the maximum height is 2.5 metres.

 

Check if you need permission

You can check whether you need planning permission for your outbuilding by using our permitted development self-assessment form for outbuildings (PDF) [335KB] .

Find more information about the planning rules for outbuildings on the Planning Portal.

Building Regulations

If you're interested in constructing a small, detached building like a garden or tool shed in your garden, it is important to consider building regulations.

Typically, regulations won't apply if:

  • the internal floor area is no larger than 15 square metres and there are no sleeping accommodations inside
  • the internal floor area is 15-30 square metres in size, building regulations will still be unnecessary as long as there are no sleeping accommodations and the structure is situated at least one metre from any boundary
  • a building that has been constructed from materials that are non-combustible may also be exempt from building regulation approval

These development allowances  relate to houses only. If you are considering constructing a garden shed or another outbuilding on land next to a maisonette, flats or other building, you should consider guidance for those specific properties.