Do I need Planning Permission For My Garage Or Carport?

Garages and carports are considered outbuildings. They are categorised as class E buildings, which include any structure or enclosure or pool, built for the purpose of the enjoyment of the dwelling house. Luckily, these can be constructed without planning permission, in some cases.

When making changes to a property, it can be difficult to know whether you need planning permission for garages or carports. Although a stylish addition to the home and perfect for those wanting something affordable but sturdy to park their vehicle under, it's not always straightforward to know if your garage or carport will require planning consent. Here’s some important information you should know before starting.

Can A Garage Or Carport Be Built Without Planning Permission?

Whether your outbuilding requires planning consent or not depends on many factors including its size, placement, location and more. If you’re not sure whether your garage or carport fits the criteria, below we’ve listed some guidelines that your outbuilding must meet in order to be built without planning permission.

(This information is drawn from national guidance but as a word of caution local planning and listed building stipulations can and do differ, for this reason you should always seek local clarification).

You cannot build in front of the wall that forms the main front of the property.
Any carport must only be single story and the eaves cannot be more than 2.5 metres.
The entire building cannot be more than 4 metres tall if it has a pitched roof or 3 metres tall for any other type of roof.
If it is within 2 metres of the boundary of your property, it cannot be higher than 2.5 metres total height.
There cannot be any verandas, balconies, or raised platforms that are more than 0.3 metres high.
The floor area of the structure may not exceed 30sqm
Including any additional buildings or additions at your property, you cannot cover more than half of the original land area that the main dwelling is on.

Our garages and carports can often be built in conformity with these rules, so there is a chance you won’t have to apply for planning permission if you buy one. The best option is to confirm the planning rules for your particular location and then we can work with you to design a building to meet your criteria.

Before scheduling any construction work or placing an order with us, make sure to consult the Government’s Planning Portal. The section concerning outbuildings will shed light on any doubts you may have.

Of course, there will still be instances when you’re unsure of whether planning permission is required when carrying out home improvements. In these instances, we strongly advise you to check with your Local Planning Authority before moving forward with any building work or enlisting the services of an experienced professional such as an architect.

Do I Need Planning Consent For A Garage Conversion?

Attached or detached garage conversions are great ways to make use of your space whilst adding value to your home. Most of them can be completed under permitted development rights, especially if the project won’t alter the structure of the building. Therefore, planning permission for a garage conversion isn’t much different to brand new garages.

Unlike extensions, garage conversions are less about building new space and more about optimising space you already have, so planning policy for these types of projects is slightly different.

It’s unlikely you’ll need planning permission for garage conversions. In fact, about 90% of them don’t, as long as the work you’re carrying out is internal and doesn’t involve enlarging the existing structure.

However, the other 10% will need garage conversion planning permission and as mentioned previously, this will be the case if you live in a property that’s not covered by permitted development rights.

When Does A Garage Or Carport Require Planning Permission?

If you live in a house within a World Heritage Site, area of outstanding natural beauty or National Park, and you are hoping to build on the grounds, you should be aware of how much space you can use for building on. The maximum total area of ground covered by buildings which are placed more than 20 metres from any wall of the house cannot be more than 10 square metres.

If you live in a house which is a listed building, it is likely that you will need listed building consent for any building operations. If the development is within the area immediately surrounding a listed building, you may need to submit a planning application for the work unless listed building consent has already been granted.

If your property does not meet some of the conditions, or is larger than local restrictions allow, you will need to apply for planning permission.

Failing to apply for planning permission at the correct time can lead to receiving an enforcement notice for the reversal of the works. Ignoring the notice is a criminal offence, but you can appeal against it. A quick confirmatory phone call or meeting with the relevant authorities is always worth the effort.

I Need Planning Consent - What’s Next?

If your outbuilding requires planning consent you will need to submit an application to your Local Planning Authority through the Government's Planning Portal - you can apply online, or via post.

Once you’ve submitted an application, the process will generally require you to submit the following information:

Five copies of the application form.
The signed ownership certification.
A site plan, block plan and elevations of the existing and proposed sites.
A Design and Access statement.
The owed fee.

To help you along the process, we can provide you with a base plan and elevated drawings to include within your application (chargeable fees applied for drawings). This may help your application, as a more detailed application could increase your chances of getting approved.

After you’ve submitted all the relevant supporting documents, your Local Planning Authority will then make a decision based on:

The number of buildings you want to build.
The size, layout, location, and appearance of the buildings.
Any landscaping requirements.
The purpose of the building.
The infrastructure at disposal, such as roads and water supply.
How the development would affect the surrounding area.

Generally, applications are processed within 8 weeks. If your application is refused, you can launch an appeal within 3 months. If the officer’s statement recommends the approval, but the planning committee refused it, you have a good chance of succeeding at an appeal.

If your application is successful, you can then start to install your garage or carport.

Useful Links:

Planning Portal Click here

Permitted Development Technical Guidance Click here

Guidance on building regulations for outbuildings Click here