There are two planning aspects that apply to building your own garden shed even although you may not require building consent:
Firstly, you must still comply with the conditions that exempt you from having building consent. If the completed shed should exceed these restrictions then you will, of course, need to get retrospective planning permission. This situation might occur for example when your neighbors complain to the local planning inspector that you have built your shed too close to their boundaries, or you have exceeded the permitted height. If you might sell your house in the future the importance of your shed complying with building restrictions, or building consents may be important. The first thing prospective buyers will do when they see your shed in the back yard is to check whether it was built within the law.
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Secondly, building your shed must comply with prescriptive building codes that spell out exactly how something has to be constructed. Building codes are to maintain standard procedures to comply with building practices as well as protecting public health, safety and general welfare. Building a shed may not be as important as a larger building, but it still needs to comply with building standards.
Buying garden shed plans from a reputable business on the Internet will be more successful than getting plans drawn up by a local architect. This is because an internet business sells hundreds of plans of different kinds to choose from, and rely on feedback from buyers field tests to achieve the highest possible standards. Architects blueprints may only be a schematic diagram with of-the-shelf specifications you may not understand. Downloaded plans are so prescriptive and detailed, that anybody can easily build a garden shed to the highest standard. The plans are, in fact, a carpentry training course. This is like a qualified carpenter working at your home.
One of the best parts of deciding to build your garden shed is that downloaded plans only cost between and . Prescriptive plans downloaded from the internet are a tiny fraction of the costs of your shed. A selection of different shed plans is a cost effective way of choosing what a shed might cost you as materials lists are provided even down to the size of nails you need.
In conclusion, the majority of garden sheds do not require approval under building regulations. Check with your local Building Inspector to make sure if building consent is required or not. Even if you do not require building consent, you will need to comply with the exemption conditions, and the building must be constructed according to building codes of practice. Downloading plans on the internet will give you the best choice of plans, and provide you with the most prescriptive method of construction. It will also be a great woodworking training course.
Building My Own Garden Shed - Do I Need Planning Permission For My Garden Shed?
John Heatley the Author of Building My Own Garden Shed - Do I need Planning Permission For My Garden Shed? wrote this article from experience building his own garden shed. If you need more information about building your garden shed and selecting plans from 12,000 Shed and Woodworking Plans, or download your free storage shed plan go to http://www.PlansForGardenSheds.org