Do you need planning permission for a garden sauna?
2.5 metres tall, and right on the limit
In England most garden saunas do not need planning permission, because they count as outbuildings under permitted development. The key limit is height: within 2 metres of your boundary an outbuilding can be up to 2.5 metres high, and every Wellness sauna is 2.5 metres tall.
The short answer
In England, a garden sauna usually counts as an outbuilding, and most outbuildings are permitted development, so they do not need planning permission when they stay within a set of limits.1
The limit that matters most for a garden sauna is height: within 2 metres of the boundary, an outbuilding can be no more than 2.5 metres high.1 All five Wellness saunas are 2.5 metres to the roof.
The permitted development limits for outbuildings
These are the main limits for a house in England.1
| Rule | The limit |
|---|---|
| Where it goes | Not on land forward of the wall that forms the front of the house |
| Storeys | Single storey, with eaves no higher than 2.5 m |
| Overall height | 4 m with a dual pitched roof, 3 m for any other roof |
| Near the boundary | No more than 2.5 m high within 2 m of the boundary |
| Platforms and decking | No raised platform over 0.3 m high |
| Garden coverage | Extensions and outbuildings together can cover no more than half the land around the original house |
When you will need planning permission
Some homes and places have tighter rules, so check with your local planning authority first.1
- Listed buildingsAny outbuilding within the grounds of a listed building needs planning permission.
- Designated landIn a conservation area, National Park, the Broads, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or a World Heritage Site, an outbuilding at the side of the house needs permission, and buildings more than 20 m from the house are limited to 10 m² in total.
- Flats and some converted housesPermitted development for outbuildings applies to houses only.
- Article 4 DirectionsSome councils remove permitted development rights in certain areas.
Building regulations
Building regulations do not normally apply to a detached outbuilding with a floor area under 15 m² and no sleeping accommodation.2
Every Wellness sauna is under 15 m²: the largest, the Wellness One, is 4.2 x 2.2 metres, about 9.2 m².
Power to your sauna
An electric sauna needs a supply from the house, and that work has its own rules.
In England, installing a complete new circuit is notifiable work under Part P of the building regulations, wherever it goes, including in the garden.3 The simplest route is a registered electrician on a competent person scheme, who can certify the work themselves.3
Before delivery, our team talks you through the base and the power your Wellness sauna needs. With delivery and installation, your sauna is put together on site and connected to your existing electrical supply.
Planning where it goes
- Keep it behind the front of the houseOutbuildings cannot go on land forward of the front wall.1
- Check the distance to the boundaryWithin 2 m of the boundary the limit is 2.5 m high, which every Wellness sauna meets.1
- Keep any base or decking lowA raised platform over 0.3 m high is outside permitted development.1
- Plan the route inKerbside delivery arrives at the kerb outside your home, so think about the path from there to the spot. Installation is £1,548 and includes putting it together on site.
Questions people ask
Do you need planning permission for a garden sauna?
In England, a garden sauna usually counts as an outbuilding and does not need planning permission when it meets the permitted development limits, such as staying no more than 2.5 metres high within 2 metres of the boundary. Listed buildings and designated land have tighter rules.
How close to the fence can a garden sauna go?
Within 2 metres of the boundary, an outbuilding can be up to 2.5 metres high under permitted development. All five Wellness saunas are 2.5 metres tall.
Does a garden sauna need building regulations approval?
Building regulations do not normally apply to a detached outbuilding under 15 square metres with no sleeping accommodation. Every Wellness sauna is under 15 square metres.
Who can wire in a garden sauna?
A new circuit is notifiable work in England, so use a registered electrician on a competent person scheme, or choose delivery and installation, which connects your sauna to your existing electrical supply.
Sources
- Outbuildings: planning permission, Planning Portal, accessed November 2026
- Is building regulations approval needed for an outbuilding?, Planning Portal, accessed November 2026
- Electrics: building regulations, Planning Portal, accessed November 2026
Paul Margerison
Managing Director & Founder, Outdoor Living
A garden sauna should be a pleasure from day one, and knowing the rules before you order is part of that. This guide sets out what applies in England, in plain words.