ᐅ NRW – Terrace Renovation with Partial Glazing

Created on: 2 Nov 2021 11:08
M
Member87
Hello community,
I have a terrace roof covering about 45m² (480 sq ft).
For this, I have a building permit including structural calculations, etc.
Now I am planning to glaze part of the terrace and convert it into a kind of conservatory. The room is intended to be used as a "cold room," and the glazing area would remain under 75m³ (2,650 cu ft). My question is, do I need an additional building permit or planning permission for this in NRW?

Does anyone have information on this?
debaser21 Feb 2022 15:43
Member87 schrieb:

The area is approximately 8 x 3.5 meters (26 x 11.5 feet), [...].

So 28 m² (300 sq ft) – then everything should be fine.
M
Member87
4 Apr 2022 09:21
Hi everyone,

First of all, thank you for your responses.
I have read that in NRW, conservatories are allowed a maximum gross floor area of 30 m² (323 ft²) to be exempt from requiring a building permit/planning permission. My question is whether this refers to the roof area including the gutter system or the outer walls including plaster/render. After all, the gutter is a bit further out.
Furthermore, our conservatory will not have a glass roof. At what point is a conservatory actually considered a conservatory? I want to install high-quality windows with appropriate insulation.
S
Scout**
4 Apr 2022 09:29
Member87 schrieb:

Hi everyone,

First of all, thank you for your responses.
I understand that in NRW, conservatories may not exceed a maximum gross floor area of 30sq m (323 sq ft) to be exempt from requiring a building permit / planning permission. My question is: does this refer to the roof area including gutters, or does it count the exterior walls including plaster? After all, the gutter extends a bit further out.
Furthermore, our conservatory will not have a glass roof. At what point does a conservatory qualify as a conservatory? I want to install high-quality windows with appropriate insulation.

In the relevant legislation, I am not aware of any definition. The Federal Association of Conservatories e.V. states:

[A]A conservatory is an enclosed extension to a building, a separate structure, or a construction integrated into the building, featuring at least one wall surface and the majority of the roof area made of translucent materials. A conservatory is a rain-tight, air-tight, and wind-tight lightweight structure separated from the outside climate.[/A]

Accordingly, if you omit the glass roof, you are not building a conservatory but rather a shed attached to your house...
M
Member87
4 Apr 2022 09:41
Okay, thank you. Are the regulations similar if the structure is defined as a shed instead of a conservatory?
S
Scout**
4 Apr 2022 09:54
Is there a boundary construction or less than 3 meters (10 feet) distance to the neighboring property? Is there a zoning plan or does Section 34 apply?

At the property boundary, only structures such as garages, greenhouses, or storage rooms are permitted, for example.

The allowed size of a garden shed varies from municipality to municipality. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the threshold for permit-free construction according to the State Building Code (Bauordnung NRW) is 75 cubic meters (2,650 cubic feet) of volume (important: gross volume excluding living spaces, stables, toilets, or fireplaces). However, this does not mean that other regulations do not have to be followed.

By definition, a garden shed is a building used temporarily and must not be considered living space under any circumstances. This means it may not have a kitchen or bathroom, and it should be easily removable. A small building that is firmly connected to a concrete foundation is no longer defined as a garden shed.
M
Member87
4 Apr 2022 10:18
Okay, we are considering whether to install some roof windows after all. Can I come back to the question of how the gross floor area (GFA) is calculated? Does it include only the exterior walls, or are roof overhangs and gutters also included?