Hello everyone,
building on our floor plan planning, we would now like to focus on the terrace and a suitable roofing solution.
For now, we have planned the terrace with a width of 8.65 meters (28 ft 4 in) and a depth of 3.50 meters (11 ft 6 in).
But does the terrace really need to be this wide?
We want to add a roof over the terrace. Ideally, it should at least cover the large window front so that the roof can provide indirect shading for the living room, without having to lower the blinds all the time.
It probably also makes sense to extend the roof to the garage area so you can sit there comfortably, right?
Do you have any ideas for us?
building on our floor plan planning, we would now like to focus on the terrace and a suitable roofing solution.
For now, we have planned the terrace with a width of 8.65 meters (28 ft 4 in) and a depth of 3.50 meters (11 ft 6 in).
But does the terrace really need to be this wide?
We want to add a roof over the terrace. Ideally, it should at least cover the large window front so that the roof can provide indirect shading for the living room, without having to lower the blinds all the time.
It probably also makes sense to extend the roof to the garage area so you can sit there comfortably, right?
Do you have any ideas for us?
We have been considering this topic for a long time and agreed on a depth of 4 meters (13 feet), assuming that as long as the canopy stays under 30 m² (323 sq ft), there would be no issues regarding permits or planning permission. However, we recently found out by chance that the depth and the building envelope also play a role in this.
Our building envelope is 12 meters (39 feet), and our house will be 10.65 meters (35 feet) deep.
Does this mean that a canopy attached to the house can only be 1.35 meters (4.5 feet) deep?
Our building envelope is 12 meters (39 feet), and our house will be 10.65 meters (35 feet) deep.
Does this mean that a canopy attached to the house can only be 1.35 meters (4.5 feet) deep?
Good question!
I'm thinking out loud here: the terrace usually has to be within the building zone, but often it may be located elsewhere on the property. Since garden sheds are allowed outside the building zone, it makes sense that a canopy or roof overhang may also extend beyond it, unless the local development plan explicitly states otherwise.
In some regions, a building permit is required for a roofed structure over 3 meters (10 feet), while in others the surface area is the determining factor.
What does @Escroda, our expert, say about this?
I'm thinking out loud here: the terrace usually has to be within the building zone, but often it may be located elsewhere on the property. Since garden sheds are allowed outside the building zone, it makes sense that a canopy or roof overhang may also extend beyond it, unless the local development plan explicitly states otherwise.
In some regions, a building permit is required for a roofed structure over 3 meters (10 feet), while in others the surface area is the determining factor.
What does @Escroda, our expert, say about this?
-SCEPS- schrieb:
We recently learned by chance that depth and the building envelope also play a role here. Surprise?
May 11, 2019:
ypg schrieb:
And where do your terraces have to be located? Inside the building envelope or can they extend beyond it? May 12, 2019:
-SCEPS- schrieb:
I havenât found any specific regulations on this.
Therefore, I assume they are also allowed outside the building envelope. I believe there was enough time to obtain binding information.
ypg schrieb:
What does @Escroda, our expert, say about this? Essay from January 21, 2019:
Escroda schrieb:
As mentioned, terraces are a controversial topic due to the history of their legal significance in building regulations. They were originally insignificant ancillary structures under planning and building law that nobody paid attention to. Then, the land use ordinance of 1990 highlighted ground sealing, and terraces gained planning relevance, initially only related to the floor area ratio. Later, court rulings shifted them from floor area ratio II to floor area ratio I because someone considered them part of the main building. As a result, terraces suddenly had to be within the developable area, although even city planners didnât take this into account when drawing up zoning plans. In building codes, terraces are still considered insignificant, for example, the NRW Building Code 2018, §62 15. e) other insignificant structures or parts of structures such as entrance canopies, awnings, roller shutters, terraces, ...
Thatâs why everyone interprets terraces differently. Legally, they must be inside the building envelope unless the zoning plan explicitly states otherwise. So, if you get a strict building inspector, you risk having to remove it. However, I am not aware of any such cases from practical experience. -SCEPS- schrieb:
Does this mean that a roofed extension connected to the house can only be 1.35 meters (4.4 feet) deep? If your zoning plan does not specify rules for terraces, they must be within the building envelope. Roofed extensions must be inside as well and will usually trigger setback requirements.
Have you already submitted the building permit / planning permission application for the residential building? Or are you planning to apply for an exemption according to §63 of the NRW Building Code?
Escroda schrieb:
I think there has been enough time to obtain definitive information.To be honest, I never considered the terrace when looking at the building envelope. I had read somewhere that it counts towards the floor area ratio. On the other hand, we also have a construction company that should be familiar with the building regulations.With a building envelope of 8.70 x 12.00 meters (28.5 x 39.4 feet), it should be almost impossible to build so small that there is still enough space behind the house for a sufficiently large terrace.
Escroda schrieb:
Have you already submitted the building permit application for the house? Or are you aiming for the exemption according to §63 of the building code NRW?We will submit the building permit application in the coming weeks. Initially, we thought about excluding the roofed area from the application and applying for it later. Ultimately, we donât yet know whether we will make the roofed area the full width or "only" 7.30-7.50 meters (24.0-24.6 feet) wide. Since the garage is planned to be extended as far as the depth of the terrace plus the roofed area, it actually makes the most sense to include the covered area in the building permit application right away. It wouldnât make sense if we extend the garage by 4 meters (13.1 feet) but in the end are only allowed to cover 3-3.50 meters (9.8-11.5 feet).-SCEPS- schrieb:
To be honest, I never really considered the terrace when thinking about the building envelope. Yvonne did, and she tried to draw your attention to it; but obviously, you ignored it.
-SCEPS- schrieb:
With a building envelope of 8.70 x 12.00 meters (28.5 x 39.4 feet), it should be almost impossible to build so small that thereâs still enough space behind the house for a sufficiently large terrace. No one is requiring you to build a terrace. Some people even think itâs impossible to fit a livable house within your building envelope. Obtain the reasoning behind the development plan and try to understand what the urban planners intended. If terraces are neither mentioned in the written regulations nor in the rationale, the experts didnât consider the current legal situation, and no one will mind the terrace as long as you donât go overboard.
My advice: leave the terrace out of the building permit / planning permission application and build it without approval after the final inspection. For any roofed structures, pay attention to the limits of permit exemptionâ30m² (323 sq ft) maximum area and 4.5m (15 ft) maximum depthâand donât forget about setback requirements.
What I donât quite understand from reading this thread is that many people say they build the patio roof (for example with an interior roller blind and three vertical blinds) solely for sun protection. Seriously? A patio roof just because you donât want to bother with sun umbrellas? Why donât you just plant trees?! For the money a good roof costs, Iâd rather buy well-developed trees with a decent height. They provide the best shade anyway.
My neighbor also has a patio roof with an interior roller blind and three vertical blinds. The conclusion: I might as well stay inside if everything above and on the sides is closed⌠lol.
Otherwise, Iâm with @ypg. We like to see the sky and hear the wind in the shade-providing trees, except on the lounge patio, where itâs cozy sitting under a modern wooden pergola fully covered with wisteria⌠well, not quite yet, but the wisteria is doing its best.
My neighbor also has a patio roof with an interior roller blind and three vertical blinds. The conclusion: I might as well stay inside if everything above and on the sides is closed⌠lol.
Otherwise, Iâm with @ypg. We like to see the sky and hear the wind in the shade-providing trees, except on the lounge patio, where itâs cozy sitting under a modern wooden pergola fully covered with wisteria⌠well, not quite yet, but the wisteria is doing its best.
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