DO I NEED PLANNING PERMISSION?
The chances are that you already know your planning situation. Why else would be looking at cabins right?
First of all, generally speaking, if your log cabin doesn’t take up more than half of your garden, is under 2.5m (yay most of ours are, as long as you don’t make your base too tall!) and is at least a metre away from your boundary fence, then you’re probably fine. But do read on.
Our cabins can be used year round, and you can install a wood burning stove (with an upgrade to residential windows, and with good ventilation, and we mean really good ventilation), heating, plumbing etc. However they are not residential grade, they are holiday grade, so you can’t generally live in them as a permanent dwelling.
Planning Permission in England
Most log cabins qualify as Permitted Development and do not need planning permission if they meet all these conditions:
Location:
- Must be in the rear or side garden (not forward of the front wall of your house).
- Single storey only.
Height:
- Max eaves height: 2.5 metres.
- Max overall height: 4 metres (dual-pitched/apex roof) or 3 metres (any other roof).
- If within 2 metres of any boundary: the maximum height allowed is 2.5 metres (so thats most of us).
Size/Coverage:
- All outbuildings combined must not cover more than 50% of the land around the “original house” (the house as built or as it stood on 1 July 1948).
Other restrictions:
- No verandas, balconies, or raised platforms over 0.3m high.
- Must be for incidental/domestic use only (not a separate dwelling).
Building Regulations in England
Separate from planning permission:
- Under 15m² internal floor area → Usually no building regs needed (if no sleeping accommodation).
- 15–30m² → Usually exempt if at least 1m from any boundary or built of non-combustible materials.
- Over 30m² → Full building regulations apply (structural stability, insulation, fire safety, electrics, etc.).
Important: If you intend to sleep in it regularly it may need full approval.
This link should help you: