Certain buildings are considered to be exempt from the requirements of the Building Regulations. These are generally those types of buildings where the application of the regulations would be unduly onerous. In such cases you may build without approval under the Building Regulations.
Even though your proposals may be exempt from the Building Regulations you may still require planning permission.
It would be advisable before proceeding to notify the Council (both Building Control and Planning Services) with written details and sketches of your proposals.
They will then confirm if the work is exempt and you could keep that with the details of your property for future reference in the event of proof being required upon the sale of your property or for any other reason.
For further advice contact the Development Enquiry Centre Tel 0113 222 44 09
Examples of exempt buildings
Conservatories
The definition of a conservatory is considered to be a single storey part of a building at ground floor level, where the roof and walls are substantially glazed with a translucent or transparent material, intended for growing plants, but often used as occasional living space.
In order to be exempt your conservatory extension must satisfy the following criteria
- Must be at ground floor level only.
- They are single storey.
- Internal floor area must not exceed 30 square metres
- A conservatory has not less than three-quarters of the area of its roof and not less than half the area of its external walls made of translucent material.
- Must not be used for any other purpose ( e.g. Kitchen or living/sleeping accommodation).
- Existing external entrance doors and/or windows must be retained.
- Safety glazing must be used.
Porches
The definition of a porch is a single storey extension, used primarily as a wind shelter, but also used for the storage of coats, shoes, umbrellas and the like, attached to an existing building at ground level and fixed over an access door.
In order to be exempt your porch extension must satisfy the following criteria
- Must be at ground floor level only
- Internal floor area must not exceed 30 square metres.
- Must not be used for any other purpose (e.g. Kitchen or living / sleeping accommodation)
- Existing external entrance doors and / or windows must be retained.
- Safety glazing must be used.
Carports
In order to be exempt your carport must satisfy the following criteria
- Must be at ground floor level only.
- Internal floor area must not exceed 30 square metres
- The carport must be open on at least two sides
Garage
In order to be exempt your garage must satisfy the following criteria
- Must be detached
- Internal floor area must not exceed 30 square metres.
- More than 1 metre from the boundary or constructed of brickwork or blockwork.
Shed
In order to be exempt your shed must satisfy the following
- Must be detached.
- Internal floor area must not exceed 30 square metres.
- More than 1 metre from the boundary or constructed of brickwork or blockwork.
- Must not be used for any other purpose (e.g. Kitchen or living / sleeping accommodation).
- If built of timber and is not more than 1m from the boundary, the floor area must be below 15 square metres.
Agricultural buildings
and greenhouses
These should be used principally for keeping animals or plants but must not be used for retailing, packing or exhibiting. No part of building is to be used as a dwelling.
Ancillary buildings
These include site sales office, construction site offices, they should only to be used during construction works and must not contain sleeping accommodation.