What is "garden office"

n. A small, stand alone, building that is designed for the domestic garden and is primarily used for telecommuting or as an office by small businesses. They are often pre-fabricated buildings with insulation and electrical connections. A garden office is generally quite robust and should not be confused with a garden shed, summerhouse or a log cabin.

A garden office is an office in a garden. This is usually separate to a house, being used as a dedicated office space by a professional homeworker or by a home-based business. In the UK, planning permission is not normally needed for a garden office if you are only using it as a home study and if it is similar in size and construction to a garden shed. A garden office used as a home study does not need planning permission as long as it is not more than 4 metres tall for a pitched roof, at least 2 metres from the property line and does not cover more than half of the garden area. If you are running a business from your garden office it will need planning permission regardless of its size or position within the garden. This is because working at home, in the garden, can cause a problem for neighbours. The cost will depend upon the facilities and will be between £5,000 and £60,000. Internet and telephone connections may be required and this can perhaps be achieved by use of a wireless network based in the main building.