One of the most common questions we hear is 'can I have a pitched roof under Permitted Development?'. The answer is yes — but the rules are stricter close to a boundary. Understanding the two thresholds keeps most designs comfortably legal.
The two thresholds
- If any part of the building sits within 2 m of any boundary, the total height must not exceed 2.5 m — measured from natural ground level to the highest point.
- Set further than 2 m from every boundary and you can go up to 4 m at ridge for a dual-pitched roof, or 3 m for any other roof.
- Eaves (the lower edge of the roof) must not exceed 2.5 m in either case.
How this shapes the design
In a compact garden where at least one wall of the room sits close to a boundary, we design flat-roof or gently sloped roof profiles at 2.4-2.45 m external height. In more generous gardens, we can lift the ridge to 3.9 m for a proper pitched-roof feel, giving vaulted ceilings inside and a more architecturally striking building.