How Big Can A House Extension Be Without Planning Permission?

I am afraid you cannot make any extensions to your house without obtain planning permission. It is mandatory to obtain the planning permission or the official consent of the building regulation authorities. In order to get advice on the consent, you need to fill and return a simple application form.

You have to convince the authorities by furnishing the proper details such as how to improve the appearance of your home and also listing all the features which the planning officers will be looking for in your proposals.

You can also obtain advice about planning permission if you want to build enclosures, such as fences, walls, gates, doors, etc. on your property. Purchases of property and their solicitors often have a lot of queries in their minds to this effect, which the authorities can answer.

The size of a house extension depends on what part (or parts) of the house you want to extend. For example, you do not need planning permission to create new windows or doors or to use the loft in the house as one of your bedrooms. However, for an outhouse or garage, or any other building that is attached to the house, it is mandatory to take planning permission.

However, if you want to make a single-storey extension, you can extend it upto 15 per cent of the area of the house or 70 cubic metres (whichever is less). In case of a two-storey extension, you can extend it upto four metres or 15 per cent of the area of the house (whichever is less). Roof extensions can be done upto approximately fifty cubic metres.

If you are from the UK the answer to this question is all extensions need planning permission the only exception to this rule is if it is a porch which can be built without planning permission* if its ground area does not exceed 3 square meters, its eight from ground level does not exceed 3 meters or dose not lie less than two meters from a boundary of a dwelling house with highway.  (* This does not count if your building is listed or lies in an area of outstanding natural beauty etc) take it from me as an architectural technologist planning although simple in areas has some complex laws and regulations so its always best to speak to a planning adviser at your local authorities planning department.

For a basic guide to planning see this interactive house www.planningportal.gov.uk

if you look online as well you will find the government produced booklet " planning a guide for house holders" if you find the telephone number for the Government publications office they will send you one free of charge if you quote the booklets reference number which is 01pd1147

hope this helps

Unless you plan on living in zero square footage, tax assessors office needs plans and you need permits so you can pay your freight buddy

I would like to know if I want to make a covered enclosed verandah covering the width of my house towards my garden. Can you please let me know how far can I extend without an official planning permission.