Planning Permission for Sheds

For a shed in the back garden used for storage, a workshop or general garden use, you do not usually need planning permission. A standard shed like that falls under permitted development, which lets you put one up without applying to the council, as long as it stays within some straightforward limits on size, height and position.

But “usually” is doing real work in that sentence, and it’s worth being honest about who the exceptions are — because they’re more common than people think. If you want the shed in your front garden (a frequent choice for bike storage), if you live in a flat or maisonette, or if your home is in a conservation area or other protected land, the standard “no permission needed” answer often doesn’t apply. And separately, using the shed to run a business can change things too. We’ll cover each of these below — but the short version is: check your situation against the limits rather than assuming you’re exempt.

Garden shed size and height limits

To stay within permitted development in England, a shed needs to keep within these limits:

• Maximum 2.5m high if within 2m of a boundary
• Maximum 4m high (dual-pitched roof) or 3m (any other roof) if more than 2m from all boundaries
• Single storey, with eaves no higher than 2.5m
• No more than 50% of your garden covered by outbuildings in total
• Not forward of the front of the house

Scotland and Wales differ on some of these figures — the full breakdown is in our main guide to planning permission for garden buildings.

For a typical garden shed, all of this is comfortably met without thinking about it. The height limits in particular are rarely a problem: a standard apex or pent shed — like those in our garden sheds range — sits well under the cap. The two things most likely to catch a shed out are placing a taller shed right up against a boundary fence (where the 2.5m limit applies), and standing it on a raised base — height is measured from the highest ground next to the shed, so a tall platform or sloping ground eats into your allowance.

Can I put a bike shed in the front garden?

Almost always, you need planning permission to put any kind of shed in the front garden. This falls outside permitted development, because outbuildings aren’t allowed forward of the principal elevation — the main front wall of your house that faces the road.

The catch is that the usual reassurances don’t apply here. In the front garden it makes no difference how small the shed is, or what it’s made of, and the 2.5m height allowance that helps you in the back garden doesn’t come into play — a compact bike store still needs permission because of where it sits, not how big it is. This is also one of the most actively enforced rules: there have been a string of cases of households ordered to remove front-garden bike sheds put up without permission.

It’s a real obstacle precisely for the people most likely to want a bike store — those in terraced or urban homes whose only outdoor space is at the front. If that’s you, the practical options are to site the store to the rear or side where permitted development applies, or to apply for permission. The good news is that councils are increasingly supportive of cycle storage, and a tidy, well-screened store often stands a good chance of approval — but you do need to apply first rather than build and hope. Ask for permission, not forgiveness.

You may have seen news that the government plans to relax this rule for small front-garden bike stores. A consultation on exactly that was held, but as of early 2026 it had not become law — so for now, a front-garden bike shed still needs a planning application. It’s worth checking the current position with your council before you buy.

A note on “two-storey” sheds and loft storage

Permitted development requires a shed to be single storey. Most sheds are, so this rarely comes up — but some retailers sell larger buildings with usable storage space built into the rafters or a part-floored loft. The more a building moves in that direction (closer to a small barn than a shed), the greater the risk it’s treated as more than single storey, which would take it outside permitted development.

It’s worth being aware of if you’re comparing models elsewhere. For reference, BillyOh sheds are single-storey buildings and don’t include second-floor or in-rafter storage of that kind, so this isn’t something you need to factor in with our range.

Can I run a business from my shed without planning permission?

This one is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. The test the planning system uses is whether your activity causes a material change of use — in plain terms, whether your home stops being mainly a home and starts being business premises, or whether the business noticeably affects the area around you.

Simply working from a shed is usually fine. A home office where you sit and work at a laptop, on your own, doesn’t change the character of the property and almost never needs permission. What tips it over is the impact of the business — in particular:

• Customers or clients visiting regularly — a steady stream of people calling at a residential address.
• Deliveries or collections — goods coming in or out, or increased traffic and parking.
• Noise, smells or other effects that neighbours would notice.

This is why some popular “shed businesses” usually do need planning permission, even though the shed itself is ordinary. A dog grooming or boarding business, a massage or beauty room, or a home bakery (“cake shed”) selling to the public all bring customers, deliveries or both to a residential property — exactly the kind of change of use that needs consent. A solo crafter making and posting orders, by contrast, usually doesn’t.

Two things worth knowing alongside planning permission. First, business use can also bring building regulations into play if the building is altered for that purpose. Second, several of these activities need their own licences regardless of planning: dog boarding and kennelling require an animal activity licence from your council, and any business handling food must be registered as a food business. If you’re planning something like this, speak to your local planning authority early — they’ll tell you whether your specific plans cross the line.

Keeping pets or hobby use

Keeping pets in a shed — or using it for a hobby like model-making, a home gym or a craft space — is fine under permitted development, as long as it’s for your own enjoyment rather than a commercial operation. It’s the commercial element, not the activity itself, that triggers the need for permission.

The bottom line

For a normal back-garden shed used for storage, a workshop or a hobby, you most likely don’t need planning permission as long as you stay within the rules — but don’t assume you’re automatically exempt: a flat or maisonette, protected land such as a conservation area, or running a business from the shed can all mean permission is required. These situations are common, so it’s always worth checking your own circumstances rather than relying on the general rule.

As always, this is information rather than legal advice, and protected land (conservation areas, listed buildings and the like) has its own tighter rules — all covered in the main guide. If you’re in any doubt, your local planning authority is the definitive source.

Browse our garden sheds

Most shed buyers are putting one in the back garden for storage, potting, bikes, tools or a workshop — which, kept within the limits above, normally needs no application at all. Whatever you need yours for, our range covers compact storage sheds through to large workshops, in a choice of sizes, roof styles and materials to suit your garden.