Building Regulations for Gardening and Landscaping Works

You might be surprised to learn that some aspects of building regulations apply to gardening and landscaping works. Generally, the areas where building regulations apply are around electrics and large outbuildings.

What are building regulations?

Building regulations are a set of standards that buildings must meet. They’re designed to ensure buildings and other areas are safe and environmentally friendly.

When do building regulations apply?

With gardening and landscaping works there are a few scenarios where building regulations do apply. For example, electrical work in the garden is covered by building regulations, which means it must be safely installed and tested.

An electrician registered with a competent persons scheme will be able to self-certify that their work meets building regulations. This means that you will not need further testing by your local authority. If you choose not to hire a registered electrician, you will need to notify the authority of the work. You will also have to have an inspection done on the electrical work that’s been carried out to make sure it meets building regulations.

Garden sheds and outbuildings

Garden sheds and other outbuildings are exempt from building regulations. They are only exempt as long as:

  • The building contains no sleeping accommodation
  • The building’s internal floor space is up to 15m2 then no building regulations apply, except for on electrics
  • It is at least 1 metre away from the boundary of the property if building’s internal floor space is between 15m2 and 30m2 . Building regulations will apply if it is not.

Any electrical systems in garden sheds or outbuildings have to meet building regulations.

It’s important to be aware of building regulations. Ensure that any gardening or landscaping work you carry out will not cause the main buildings to no longer meet regulations. For example, landscaping work you carry out that blocks boiler flues or ventilation grills could cause the original building to fail to meet building regulations.

Even if your landscaping or gardening works do not need building regulations approval, it is still vital that the work follows best practices for safety. This is especially important for potentially dangerous projects like adding a swimming pool or a low garden wall. These best practices also apply to paths and access routes.

To learn more about the regulations on gardening and landscaping works, see our page on planning permission. If you’re not sure if building regulations apply, speak to your local authority. You can contact your local authority here.