Building Regulations -
Domestic Garages and other ancillary buildings including sheds)
For the purposes of the Building Regulations, the definition
of a domestic garage includes a carport and is either attached
to or detached from the dwelling. It is generally recognised
that a garage is an area designated for car storage.
Buildings which are structurally connected to an existing
house are classified as attached regardless of whether there
is a doorway connecting them.
Application
The erection of any attached building will need an application
to Building Control in the usual manner.
A fee will be payable.
A detached garage is a garage which is structurally unconnected
to a dwelling and is used for the storage of cars.
An application is not required if the detached (single-storey)
building contains no sleeping accommodation, has a floor area
not exceeding 30 square metres and is either:
- constructed substantially of non-combustible material, or
- at any point, greater than one metre from any boundary.
If the detached building has a floor area exceeding 30 square metres
then it is necessary to make an application to Building Control.
An application is not required if the building is less than
15 sq metres and contains no sleeping accommodation irrespective
of its distance from any boundary.
An application is not required if the proposed carport:
- is situated at ground floor level;
- has an internal floor area which does not exceed 30 square metres; and
- is open on at least two sides.
If the above criteria are not met then an application is required.
Regulation tips
- Garages or similar buildings do not have to resist moisture penetration.
Consequently, Building Control will not enforce the use
of damp-proof courses, membranes or other proprietary items
for resisting rain penetration.
- Like any other extension, provide a proper drainage
system for storm drainage; and also for foul drainage if sanitary appliances
are fitted.
An attached building is treated in a similar fashion to an extension but
- not all the Regulations apply, depending on the intended use
of the building
- in the interest of fire safety, if there is a door to the dwelling,
it should have 30 minutes' fire resistance and be self-closing.
This opening must incorporate a step of at least 100mm between
a garage and dwelling floor.
- the positioning of an attached building must not affect the
fire safety precautions of the existing house, e.g. must
not jeopardise an escape window either on the ground floor
or the first floor. If in doubt, contact the Building
Control service.
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