Planning Permission — What You Actually Need to Know
Most home simulator conversions require no planning permission at all. Garden rooms can usually qualify as exempted development too — though that depends on your specific situation, and it's always worth a quick check with your local authority.
Do you need planning permission?
For most people, the answer is no — and that's a genuine relief.
If you're converting a space that already exists inside your home — a garage, a spare room, a basement, a utility room — you're typically carrying out internal works that don't require any planning application at all. The room is already there; you're just fitting it out differently.
For a garden room or a new detached structure, the picture is a little more nuanced — but still straightforward for most homes.
Here's the honest picture, in plain terms:
Existing indoor space (garage, spare room, etc.) — almost always no permission needed
Garden room already in place — usually no additional permission, as long as it was built within exemption limits
New garden structure — may qualify as exempted development under Irish planning law, subject to size and location rules
In a protected structure, an Architectural Conservation Area, or an apartment — check first; different rules apply
When does a garden room need permission?
Under Irish planning regulations, many garden structures can be built without a planning application if they fall within the exempted development thresholds. The key conditions — as a general guide — are:
Floor area not exceeding 25 square metres (proposed changes may increase this — check current rules with your local authority)
Height not exceeding 3m for a flat roof or 4m for a pitched roof
Located to the rear or side of the dwelling
Not used as a habitable room (a golf simulator room is leisure/hobby use, not sleeping accommodation)
A typical golf simulator room — say, a single-bay studio of around 30–40 sq m with a pitched roof — may need a planning application, depending on its size and your local authority's rules. The threshold above is a guide, not a guarantee.
This is not legal advice. Planning rules in Ireland can vary by local authority and by the specific characteristics of your property. Before committing to a garden room build, we'd strongly recommend contacting your local planning authority directly — most will give you a preliminary opinion without charge. An architect or planning consultant can also give you a quick read on whether your project qualifies.
The key point: it's usually a conversation of minutes, not months.
Exempt from planning ≠ exempt from building regulations
Even where planning permission isn't required, Irish building regulations still apply. These cover structural safety, fire safety, ventilation, insulation, and electrical installations.
For an indoor conversion, compliance is generally straightforward — your room already has a structure, a floor, and a ceiling. We fit the simulator equipment; your builder handles any structural or electrical work to the appropriate standard.
For a new garden room, your contractor should be familiar with Part A (Structure), Part B (Fire) and Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) at a minimum. A good garden room supplier will build to these standards as a matter of course — ask them to confirm it before you sign anything.
We don't install the structure itself, but we're happy to advise on what to ask your builder so the room is simulator-ready from day one. See our room design guide for the dimensions that matter.
Most customers don't need to do anything special
The vast majority of our installs go into existing rooms — garages, spare bedrooms, home offices — where there's no planning question at all. For garden rooms, the exemption thresholds cover a good proportion of typical builds.
If you're in any doubt:
1. Check with your local planning authority — a short call or email usually gets you a clear answer 2. Talk to your builder if a new structure is involved — they'll know the local norms 3. Ask us — we've set up simulators in a huge variety of spaces across Ireland and can tell you what we've seen in practice (though we're not planning consultants)
Not sure whether your space is suitable at all? Try our room size calculator or get in touch — the €50 consultation covers space questions too, and it's fully redeemable against your order.
Phone us on 01 582 6935, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Not sure about your space? Let's have a look.
Share your room or garden dimensions and we'll give you an honest read on what's possible — no jargon, no obligation.
Or call us directly: 01 582 6935