🏡 Can I put up a garden shed or hut without a building permit?

With conditions

Quick answer

You can usually put up a small garden shed or hut of up to 20 m² without a building permit, but that does not mean you may build anything anywhere. Under the Building Act (GZ-1) and the Decree on the classification of structures, a small building that supplements existing development — a shed, hut, canopy, woodshed or pergola — of up to 20 m² gross floor area counts as a simple structure for which no building permit is needed. Once the area exceeds 20 m² and up to 50 m², it becomes a non-demanding structure that does require a building permit, issued on the basis of a simple sketch rather than full design documents. It may not be used for living, must stand on the existing building plot, must not encroach on the neighbour's land and must respect the municipal spatial plan and the prescribed setbacks. The myth that anything up to 20 m² is always paperwork-free, and that the old ZGO-1 figures (such as a 3 m height limit) still apply, no longer holds — classification and procedure are now set by GZ-1, and a structure with its own utility connection may need a permit even at a smaller size.

📋 The rules

A small building supplementing development (shed, hut, canopy, woodshed, pergola) of up to 20 m² gross floor area is a simple structure — no building permit is needed, but spatial-plan rules still apply.
Between 20 and 50 m² it is a non-demanding structure, which requires a building permit issued on the basis of a simple sketch; no occupancy permit is required for it.
A simple or non-demanding structure may not be used for living and must stand on the existing building plot of the main structure.
Even a permit-free structure must respect the setbacks from the boundary and the municipal spatial plan (OPN); building on the boundary itself, or closer than the setback, needs the neighbour's consent.
Building without the required permit is handled by the Inspectorate for the Environment and Spatial Planning; the GZ-1 fine for an investor who is a natural person is EUR 1,000 to 10,000.

🔓 Exceptions

If the structure has its own connection to public utility infrastructure (electricity, water, sewage), a building permit may be required even at a smaller floor area.
In protected areas (cultural heritage, water-protection or nature-protection zones) the conditions are stricter, and consent of the competent service or a permit is often required despite the small size.
Maintenance work and temporary structures (e.g. a seasonal tent) have their own rules; anything that is in fact a new building is assessed against the criteria for a simple or non-demanding structure.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

If your hut or shed needs a permit and you do not have one, it is an illegal (unauthorised) construction handled by the building inspectorate within the Inspectorate for the Environment and Spatial Planning. The inspector can order the construction to stop and even the removal of the structure at your own expense, which is often more costly than the build itself. Under GZ-1 the fine for an investor who is a natural person is EUR 1,000 to 10,000, and much higher for a company or sole trader. On top of the fine you may be charged the costs of the inspection procedure and enforcement, and an illegal structure leaves traces when you sell the property, register it in the cadastre or apply for a loan. If it encroaches on the neighbour's land or breaches the setbacks, you also risk a civil claim from the neighbour for disturbance of possession or removal. Retroactive legalisation is slow and expensive, and sometimes impossible if the structure does not comply with the spatial plan.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Up to what size does a shed not need a permit?

A small building supplementing existing development up to 20 m² gross floor area is a simple structure and needs no building permit. If it exceeds 20 m² and is up to 50 m², it becomes a non-demanding structure and a permit issued on a simple sketch is required.

May I put the shed right up against the boundary?

The setback from the boundary is set by the municipal spatial plan, usually at least half a metre or more. If you want the structure closer or on the boundary itself, you need the neighbour's written consent, or you risk an inspection order and a civil dispute.

What happens if I build a shed without the required permit?

It counts as illegal construction handled by the building inspectorate, which can order the work stopped and the structure removed at your expense. The fine for a natural person under GZ-1 is EUR 1,000 to 10,000, and the costs of the procedure may be charged on top.

Can I live in the shed or rent it out for tourism?

No, a simple or non-demanding structure may not be used for living and cannot replace a residential building. For living or tourist use you must obtain a building permit for the appropriate type of structure and meet additional conditions.

Do I need a permit for a fixed timber shed on a concrete slab?

What matters is the gross floor area and the intended use, not the type of foundation, so up to 20 m² a permit is usually not needed. If the shed is larger or has its own utility connection, a permit may be required even though it is a prefabricated structure.

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