A holiday cabin gives you the chance to leave the city whenever you like and unwind on your own terms. Before construction begins, however, you need to check the local spatial development plan and plan the project in line with current building regulations. How do you go about it? Do the documents specify the distance of a holiday cabin from the boundary of the nearest building plot?
Building a holiday cabin — why is it worth it?
The term holiday cabin most often refers to buildings intended for seasonal occupancy, i.e. individual recreation buildings — usually used during the warm summer months, although the structure can also be adapted for winter visits. More and more people are choosing a wooden holiday cabin, which not only blends beautifully with its surroundings but also ensures a comfortable break in harmony with nature.
A cabin's area usually does not exceed 35 m², because until the end of 2021 structures of that size could be built without applying for a building permit.
Today, however, these rules have changed and structures of up to 70 m² do not require a building permit — a fact that will undoubtedly please people who want to install a large holiday cabin for a bigger family.
Holiday cabins are most often chosen by people dreaming of their own place to relax. Such buildings are becoming increasingly popular because, during the year, many people devote themselves entirely to work and other duties, and when they rest, they want to do so within their own four walls, surrounded by nature. A holiday cabin is also a good choice for people who like to head out of town spontaneously.
A hotel room has to be booked well in advance, whereas you can arrive at your own holiday cabin at any time of day, without planning. The same goes for leaving. Investing in this type of structure is also a great option for anyone who doesn't want to follow rules imposed from above. Owning your own plot and spending seasonal getaways in a holiday cabin gives you, above all, freedom and peace, which is incredibly valuable during a vacation.
What is a local spatial development plan?
Once we decide to build a holiday cabin, we need to think about what it should look like and whether our project breaks any applicable laws. Before putting up the structure, you need to familiarize yourself with the local spatial development plan. This document tells us about the development conditions on a given property and lets us check what holiday cabin designs should look like.
This document also provides information about the development of the area near the investment, so you can find out whether a road is likely to be built there, and whether shops, kindergartens or other buildings may appear in the neighborhood in the future. It also often contains a ban on building in a particular area. This can be especially useful when building a holiday cabin for people who want to spend their free days in a peaceful, quiet area, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and with privacy preserved — even if it is located within a densely built-up area.
Once you know the local spatial development plan, you can start planning exactly what the holiday cabin you want to put on your plot should look like.
The question remains: what distance is required between a holiday cabin and the plot boundary? Detailed information on this can be found in the Minister of Infrastructure's regulation on the technical conditions that buildings and their location must meet. According to it, the following distance must be kept between the property boundary and the structure being installed:
- 4 meters, for a building whose wall with window and door openings faces the boundary,
- 3 meters, if the wall has no window or door openings.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. So if you want to build a holiday cabin closer to the plot boundaries, it is worth checking in the local spatial development plan mentioned earlier whether such deviations are permitted. If so, you will be able to place your structure 1.5 meters from your neighbor, provided that the wall of the building facing that direction has no doors or windows.
Otherwise, special permission will be required. In addition, placing a holiday cabin 1.5 meters from the boundary is possible if the plot is no wider than 16 meters and the building faces the neighbor's plot with the side that has no doors or windows.
An exception to the standard rules is also possible when your neighbor has built their own holiday cabin right on the plot boundary. In that case, our holiday cabin must adjoin the neighboring structure with its wall. In addition, remember that its length and height cannot exceed those of the neighbor's structure. The required distance from the plot boundary will probably also differ if the building is to stand close to a forest. What's more, it is worth remembering that a balcony or terrace does not have to be set back from the neighboring plot in the same way as the walls of the building.
Building a holiday cabin and the points of the compass
We now know what distance from the plot boundary is required for a holiday cabin. What else should you remember when building your own seasonal structure? Before starting construction work, it is also good to consider how the structure will be oriented relative to the points of the compass. It is best to face the living room west or south. That way, sunlight will reach it until late in the day. This will reduce electricity consumption and, in turn, save money.
The bedroom is best placed on the west or east side — in the latter case, the sun's rays will wake the occupants. Other rooms, including the kitchen, can be located on the less sunny sides. This way, the place where meals are prepared will not heat up during the day, which will improve the comfort of the occupants.
Positioning the holiday cabin relative to the road
It is also worth paying attention to how the holiday cabin will be positioned relative to the road. Most people try to plan the layout of the structure on the plot so that the entrance is on the north or east side. This leaves the sunniest parts of the plot free for those relaxing there, allowing for long hours of play and relaxation in the garden sunshine.
FAQ
What is the minimum distance of a holiday cabin from the plot boundary?
Cabins should be placed 3 meters from the boundary if the structure faces the neighboring plot with a wall without windows and doors, and 4 meters if the side facing it has doors and windows.
Does building a holiday cabin always have to be notified to the authorities?
Yes — building a holiday cabin always requires a notification or a permit, depending on its size, purpose and location. Structures with a building footprint of up to 70 m² can be built on the basis of a notification if they are single-storey buildings intended solely for the investor's own needs and will not be rented out. You must also have the right to use the plot for construction purposes and meet other conditions, e.g. concerning the land class.
All cabins over 70 m² already require a building permit. Importantly, remember that when submitting a notification you must strictly observe the deadline — the construction start date must be specified in the application and reported to the relevant authorities.
What should you keep in mind when choosing the best place for a holiday cabin on your plot?
Holiday cabins must be placed at appropriate distances from the plot boundary. It is also important to leave a suitable distance from the road.
