Do You Need Planning Permission for a Shed? UK Rules Explained 2026

In most cases you do not need planning permission for a garden shed in England: outbuildings are normally permitted development under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. In this 2026 explainer, Furniture in Fashion sets out the conditions that catch householders out rather than the principle that rarely does. Height, position and coverage decide it: a shed must be single storey with eaves no higher than 2.5m, overall height capped at 4m for a dual pitched roof or 3m for any other form, dropping to just 2.5m within 2m of a boundary, and outbuildings must not cover more than half the land around the original house. The report also covers the tighter rules on designated land and for listed buildings, the effect of Article 4 directions and title covenants, and the separate building regulations thresholds including Part P for electrical work....