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Planning · checked November 2026

Garden room planning permission in Wicklow

Since 27 July 2026, a garden room is exempt from planning if all sheds and garden structures together are no more than 30 m², at least 25 m² of garden is left, it's behind the front wall, no higher than 3 m (4 m with a tiled or slated pitched roof), and it isn't lived in (S.I. 338 of 2026). The rules are national; Wicklow County Council applies them.

Get a free quoteFree. Answer 4 questions, or upload a photo of the garden for a preview. One company rings you with a price.
  • €15,950for an insulated, fitted 4 m × 3 m room, incl. VAT and installation, from a Kilcoole firm's own price list (East Coast Carpentry)
  • 30 m²the planning-exempt total for garden structures since 27 July 2026, up from 25 m² (S.I. 338 of 2026)
  • 59%of people at work in Greystones-Delgany said they work from home (CSO Census 2022)
  • 33 pricesfrom 5 sources, read 3 November 2026: the cost guide

FreeNo obligationOne company rings you, not fiveNothing agreed until you accept a written price

The conditions

Class 3, all six conditions

  1. Behind the house: nothing built forward of the front wall.
  2. 30 m² in total: the garden room plus any shed, garage or greenhouse already there.
  3. 25 m² of garden left: private open space for the house.
  4. Height: 3 m, or 4 m with a tiled or slated pitched roof.
  5. Finish: a structure to the side of the house has to match the house's finish.
  6. Use: not for human habitation, and only for a purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the house.

From S.I. 338 of 2026, in operation from 27 July 2026 (S.I. 338 of 2026). Before that the total was 25 m².

A garden room at the end of a back garden, with the 2026 exemption limits A flat-roofed garden room behind a house. Labels: up to 3 metres high with a flat roof, 30 square metres in total for all sheds and garden structures, at least 25 square metres of garden left, and behind the front wall of the house. Behind the house, from the side. Our drawing, not to scale. House at least 25 m² of garden left up to 3 m high, flat roof 30 m² for all sheds and rooms Exempt from planning under Class 3 if it isn't lived in or slept in, and is only used as part of the house: an office, gym, studio or playroom.
Class 3 limits from 27 July 2026, under S.I. 338 of 2026 (summary). 4 m is allowed with a tiled or slated pitched roof.

The council

Wicklow County Council, every town

Every town on this site is Wicklow County Council. The council works through five municipal districts: Arklow, Baltinglass, Bray, Greystones and Wicklow (Wicklow County Council). If your address is over the county line in Co. Dublin, it's the Dublin council for that area instead.

Not sure?

The section 5 declaration

If you're not sure a room is exempt, ask Wicklow County Council for a section 5 declaration. Its form asks you to attach the €80 fee and list the plans and drawings you send (Wicklow County Council). For an extension it asks at least for a site location map, the floor areas of the existing and new structures, floor plans and elevations, and a site layout plan showing the distance to the boundaries. The same drawings answer most garden room questions. The declaration is the council's answer in writing, worth having before you spend money on a room near the limits.

Outside the rules

When you need planning permission

  • Over 30 m² with the other sheds and structures.
  • Over 3 m high with a flat roof.
  • Someone sleeps in it, or it's let.
  • A business with customers or staff calling.
  • A protected structure, or a condition on your house's own planning permission that removes exemptions.

For a unit someone lives in, the detached auxiliary dwelling exemption (Class 3A) covers 32 to 45 m², linked to the house's services, with 14 days' notice to the council (Fieldfisher). Wicklow County Council has a separate section 5 form for it, also €80, for works started and finished between 27 July 2026 and 31 December 2030.

See it first

A garden room in your own garden

Take a photo from the back door, pick the cladding and the front, and see a room at the end of your garden before anyone quotes. Free, in under a minute.

  1. Upload a photo, or answer 4 questions.
  2. We pass it to one company that covers your part of Wicklow.
  3. They ring you with a written price.

Preview of your photo, not a guarantee. Your photo goes to Google's Gemini service to make the picture and isn't kept.

Before you choose a spot

  • Measure the garden. At least 25 m² of it has to stay open for the room to be exempt.
  • Check how far the spot is from the house: the power cable runs that distance, and it's priced separately.
  • Look at side access. Panels and a base have to get through.
  • On a sloping hillside garden, ask about the base before anything else.

Free quote

Get a price in 4 taps

Tap what you need and leave your number. It goes to one garden room company that covers your part of Wicklow, and they ring you back to arrange a look at the garden and a written price.

What's the room for?

Pick the closest. They'll ask the rest.

By sending, you agree to Garden Rooms Wicklow passing your details to one garden room company that covers your part of Wicklow, so they can contact you about the job. Privacy notice

FAQ

Questions people ask

What size garden room can I build without planning in Ireland?

30 m² in total for all sheds and garden structures, since 27 July 2026 (S.I. 338 of 2026). It was 25 m² before.

How high can a garden room be without planning?

3 m with a flat roof, 4 m with a tiled or slated pitched roof (S.I. 338 of 2026).

How close to the boundary can a garden room be?

Class 3 sets no distance from the boundary (S.I. 338 of 2026). Building regulations, neighbours' light and gutters over the fence still matter.

How much is a section 5 declaration in Wicklow?

€80, attached to Wicklow County Council's application form.

Can I use my garden room as a bedroom?

Not under Class 3, which rules out human habitation (S.I. 338 of 2026).

Keep reading

Related guides

Where these numbers come from (2 public sources, checked 3 November 2026)
  1. S.I. No. 338 of 2026: Class 1 extensions to 45 m² and Class 3 sheds and garden structures to 30 m² (Dublin City Council summary)
  2. CSO Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by built-up area and county

Step 1 of 3

Sources (5)

Prices and facts on this page were checked against these published pages. We are not connected to these businesses.

  1. East Coast Carpentry: eastcoastcarpentry.ie
  2. Wicklow County Council: wicklow.ie
  3. Wicklow County Council: wicklow.ie
  4. Fieldfisher: fieldfisher.com
  5. Wicklow County Council: wicklow.ie