Do You Need Planning Permission for a Garden Room in Chichester? Local Rules Explained

Garden rooms have become one of the most popular home improvements for Chichester homeowners, offering a flexible way to add space without the disruption of a full extension. Whether you live in Chichester city centre, Fishbourne, Lavant, Hunston or the nearby villages, a garden room can be used as an office, studio, gym or guest space.

But one of the first questions people ask is:
Do you need planning permission for a garden room in Chichester?

The good news is that most garden rooms fall under Permitted Development, meaning no formal planning application is required. However, there are important rules that you must follow — especially in conservation areas and rural locations.

Below is a simple guide to help you understand the requirements before you begin your project.

 

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1. When Garden Rooms Do Not Need Planning Permission

Most garden rooms fall under Permitted Development Rights if they meet the following criteria:

Height Limits

 

• • Maximum overall height: 2.5m if within 2 metres of a boundary

• • Up to 4m for dual-pitched roofs if placed further away from boundaries

• • Up to 3m for flat or single-pitch roofs

Size Limits

 

• • Garden room must not cover more than 50% of your garden area (including sheds and outbuildings)

• • It must be single-storey only

Placement

 

• • The garden room must be behind the main house

• • Not used as a separate living accommodation

Most Chichester homes meet these rules easily, meaning planning permission is not usually needed.

 

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2. When You Do Need Planning Permission

Even though many builds are permitted, there are situations where planning permission is required.

If your property is in a conservation area

Parts of Chichester — including parts of the city centre, Summersdale and historic streets — fall within conservation areas.
In these places, restrictions are tighter, particularly regarding:

 

• • Height

• • Placement

• • Visual impact

• • Materials used

If you live in a listed building

You will need permission for most external structures, even if small.

If the garden room will be used as living accommodation

Garden rooms used as a:

 

• • Bedroom

• • Permanent guest annexe

• • Separate rental space
    …will require planning approval.

If the design is unusually large or prominent

Oversized structures or those with raised platforms may also need approval.

 

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3. Garden Office Rules in Chichester

Using a garden room as a home office is allowed under Permitted Development if:

 

• • The office is incidental to home use

• • No employees or customers regularly visit the building

• • It’s not used as a full commercial premises

Most home offices meet these requirements easily.

 

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4. How Chichester’s Local Environment Impacts Garden Rooms

Chichester’s mixture of historic streets, conservation areas and rural surroundings means some homeowners face additional checks.

You should always assess:

 

• • Tree preservation orders (common in suburban Chichester)

• • Boundary restrictions

• • Access issues in smaller terraced gardens

A local builder familiar with Chichester planning rules can advise you early on to avoid delays.

 

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5. Should You Apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness?

Even if your garden room doesn’t require planning permission, many homeowners apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness from the council for peace of mind.
This is helpful if you ever sell your home and want documentation showing the build was compliant.