Growing your own vegetables and plants in a greenhouse is a pursuit that planning law is generally accommodating of. A greenhouse in a residential garden is an outbuilding for planning purposes and can be built without planning permission in most cases, subject to the standard outbuilding permitted development conditions.

When a Greenhouse Is Permitted Development

A greenhouse in the garden of a dwellinghouse is permitted development and does not require planning permission provided it meets the outbuilding conditions under Class E of Part 1 of the General Permitted Development Order. These conditions require that the greenhouse must not be forward of the principal elevation of the house, must not exceed 2.5 metres in eaves height, must not exceed four metres in total height with a dual-pitched roof or three metres with any other roof type, and must not, together with all other outbuildings and extensions, cover more than 50 percent of the curtilage excluding the original house. The structure must not be used as a separate dwelling.

A typical domestic greenhouse easily meets these conditions and can be erected without any planning application or formal notification to the local authority.

When Planning Permission May Be Required

Planning permission may be required for a greenhouse that exceeds the height limits, that is positioned in the front garden forward of the principal elevation of the house, that takes the total outbuilding coverage above 50 percent of the curtilage, or that is at a listed building. In designated areas including National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, any greenhouse over 15 square metres that is more than 20 metres from the dwelling may require planning permission.

Commercial or Large-Scale Greenhouses

A greenhouse used for commercial growing or of a size significantly beyond domestic use is not covered by the residential outbuilding permitted development rights and would require planning permission for the change of use and the structure itself. Domestic permitted development applies only to greenhouses ancillary to the residential use of the dwellinghouse.

Building Regulations

A standard residential greenhouse is generally exempt from Building Regulations as it is a single-storey detached structure under 15 square metres without sleeping accommodation. Larger greenhouses between 15 and 30 square metres are exempt if more than one metre from the boundary. Greenhouses over 30 square metres require Building Regulations approval. Electrical installations in any greenhouse, such as heating systems, lighting, or automated watering controls, must comply with Part P if they involve notifiable electrical work.

Summary

A standard residential greenhouse is permitted development and does not require planning permission provided it meets the outbuilding height, coverage, and position conditions. Front garden position, excessive size, listed buildings, and designated areas can trigger a planning requirement. Building Regulations are not required for most domestic greenhouses but apply to larger structures and to notifiable electrical installations.