If you want to store garden tools, pedal tractors and children's sand toys or bicycles, a garden shed proves to be extremely practical. The interior of the slightly larger models can become a second living room and from the cozy terrace you can enjoy your own garden from a completely different perspective on mild summer evenings. But before you can dream of a garden house, legal things have to be considered, because a building permit is often necessary.
Whether a building permit is required for the construction of a garden house depends on various factors
When does the garden shed require a permit?
There are several factors that determine whether you need planning permission for the cottage. These include:
- the size
- the height
- the footprint
- the number of cubic meters of the enclosed area
- the site
- the equipment (toilet, fireplace, heating).
The chosen foundation also plays a role. Because it is easy to manufacture, many choose to use a full concrete foundation. Only through this is the garden house (24.90 €) often subject to approval.
State building permits
Below we would like to give you a brief overview of the regulations of the individual federal states. Please check with the authority responsible for you before starting construction, as these guidelines are constantly changing.
Baden-Württemberg:
In garden house areas, such as allotment gardens, no building permit is required. The volume outside may not exceed 20 m³, inside 40 m³. In addition, no toilets, fireplaces or lounges may be integrated into the house.
Bavaria
If no more than 75 m³ are converted and the house does not have a fireplace, the arbor does not require approval. Even in allotment gardens you do not need a building permit. The situation is different outside the development plan area: approval is required here.
Berlin
Here, too, nothing can be done outside of the development area without a permit. Within this, the volume may only be 10 m³☺. More than a small tool shed is not in the federal capital without official permission.
Brandenburg
Here, all gazebos that are within the development plan area do not require a permit up to a volume of 75 m³. In allotment gardens, the cottage may have a floor area of 24 m² including an outdoor seating area.
Bremen
Houses with a volume of up to 30 m³ indoors and up to 6 m³ outdoors are not subject to a permit. If there is no fireplace, a one-storey house may be 10 m2.
Hamburg
Here the enclosed volume limit is 30 m³. A building permit is always required if you want to build the house outside of a development area.
Hesse
Here, too, the room volume may be 30 m³. If the house has a lounge, a fireplace or sanitary facilities, a permit is required.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
In this federal state, too, a small tool shed does not require a permit, because the upper limit of the converted area is 10 m³. If the house is to be erected outdoors, nothing works without official approval.
Lower Saxony
Here the regulations are less strict, up to 40 m³ room volume are allowed without permission. Outside, up to 20 m³ do not require approval.
North Rhine-Westphalia
If you are planning an arbor with a volume of more than 30 m³, official approval is required. Even if you want to integrate a fireplace, a toilet or a recreation room, you need them. What is permitted in the allotment garden is based on the Federal Allotment Garden Act.
Rhineland-Palatinate
In the outdoor area you need a building permit from a room volume of 10 m³ and indoors from 30 m³.
Saarland
Here, too, without a building permit, it remains with the small tool shed, which may be a maximum of 10 m³. Arbors in allotment gardens fall under the Federal Allotment Law.
Saxony
The same applies here: Everything that is larger than 10 m³ room volume must be approved by the authorities. In the outdoor area, all arbors are subject to approval.
Saxony-Anhalt
The same strict regulations apply here as in Saxony. Even indoors, a summer house with a room volume of more than 10 m³ requires approval.
Schleswig Holstein
Outside, the room volume may be 10 m³, inside 30 m³, everything above that is subject to approval. If you are planning a toilet, fireplace or recreation room, a permit is also required.
Thuringia
Unfortunately, nothing works outdoors without permission, indoors you may at best build a small equipment shed with 10 m³ of enclosed space without official approval.
And what about the neighbors?
When it comes to border development, it is also important to observe the building regulations of the federal states. This is only permitted for structures no higher than three meters and then only if the total length of the garden shed does not exceed nine meters. This only applies if there is no living room, no fireplace and no sanitary facilities integrated into the house. If this is the case, a distance of at least three meters to the property line must be maintained.
tips
Due to the non-uniform legal situation in the federal states, it is always advisable to contact the authorities before buying or planning a self-built garden shed. In the spirit of good neighborliness, it is also advisable to inform the neighbors about the construction project and, if necessary, coordinate the stand location with them.