What is an individual recreation building? Definition and regulations

In 2022, the rules on building a house without a building permit changed. The amendment to the act covers, among other things, the footprint of such buildings. Since these provisions came into force, we can build houses and individual recreation buildings with a footprint of up to 70 m² on the basis of a construction notification. It is a considerable simplification that has encouraged many people to take on this kind of project. But what exactly are individual recreation buildings, and how do these regulations work in practice?

Individual recreation building – definition

An individual recreation building is a more complicated name for the well-known holiday cabin. It is a small building or wooden cottage intended for summer leisure or short-term recreational stays. It is usually located in picturesque villages, mountain areas or seaside towns, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Holiday cabins can serve as a place to relax for families or groups of friends, as well as an alternative to hotels during summer holidays. They often come with a garden, a terrace or other outdoor amenities that make it easy to spend time in the fresh air.

Meanwhile, in the announcement of the Minister of Development and Technology of 15 April 2022 on the publication of the consolidated text of the Minister of Infrastructure's regulation on the technical conditions that buildings and their location should meet, individual recreation buildings are defined simply as buildings intended for seasonal leisure.

Individual recreation building in 2024

In 2022, the building law was amended. The Act of 17 September 2021 amending the Building Law and the Act on Spatial Planning and Development introduced significant relaxations concerning, among other things, the footprint of holiday cabins.

Until then, it was only possible to build cabins with a maximum footprint of 35 m² and no usable attic. With the amendment, however, the permitted area was increased, and from 3 January 2022, when the provisions came into force, individual recreation buildings of up to 70 m² at ground level can be built. At the same time, the rule that there be no usable attic was kept. This does not mean the roof space cannot be used at all – the regulations allow for building a mezzanine or a loft.

Building law – individual recreation buildings

What do the building law provisions for individual recreation buildings look like if the structure is to be built on the basis of a notification? What should you pay particular attention to?

• A holiday cabin must be a single-storey building, without the usable attic mentioned above. At the same time, it must of course meet the requirement of a maximum footprint of 70 m².
• An individual recreation building must also comply with the requirements of the local spatial development plan. If there is no such plan, you must obtain a decision on development and land use conditions.
• A holiday cabin does not have to meet, among other things, the energy performance requirements for windows or the roof, nor the fire resistance class requirements.
• If you decide to build several individual recreation buildings, remember the spatial restrictions allowing one holiday cabin per 500 m².
• The width of the building may not exceed 6 metres, while the projection of supports is limited to 2 m.
• The height of every room intended for people to stay in may not be less than 2.2 m.
• If the local spatial development plan and the local plan do not require the plot to be serviced with utilities or the cabin to be connected to the sewage system, water supply or other networks, the owner does not have to do so (the situation is different for all-year cabins).

Individual recreation building – rules on converting a seasonal cabin into an all-year one

When undertaking the construction of an individual recreation building, many people wonder whether a holiday cabin can be converted into an all-year property. After all, with your own retreat in a beautiful corner of the country, it would be a shame to limit yourself to using it only seasonally. What is more, the popularity of remote work and the rapidly rising prices of apartments or of building a single-family house that requires a permit lead many people to decide to live permanently in an individual recreation building. But what do the regulations say about this?

It is hard to give a clear-cut answer here. As it turns out, the regulations do not contain precise guidelines on converting a holiday cabin into an all-year one or on living permanently in such a building. However, the whole process must include insulation (thermal insulation), connecting utilities, and fitting the building with airtight windows and doors.

At the same time, offices in different parts of Poland interpret the regulations slightly differently and often approve registering a residence in such an all-year cabin, which can be understood as permission for permanent residence. It also happens that a holiday cabin has to be converted into a residential building, i.e. meet all the technical requirements that apply to residential buildings, which the designs of individual recreation buildings often do not include (ground floor height, adequate window insulation or stair dimensions).

Where to report the construction of an individual recreation building?

To report such a construction, you need to go to the Architecture and Construction Department at the County Office (Starostwo Powiatowe) for the particular county in which you want to put up your holiday cabin. You must obtain a cadastral map (from the Geodesy and Cartography Department at the County Office) and mark on it the floor plans, vertical sections and elevation views. Keep in mind, however, that when positioning the cabin on the plot, you must observe all the distances from the plot boundary set out in the building law.

In addition, you need to submit a completed notification form and a statement of ownership of the plot. All of this simply has to be delivered to the Architecture and Construction Department at the County Office, and then you wait. If within 21 days nobody from the office contacts you to ask about important matters or to raise doubts or an objection, it is considered that you may begin construction.

FAQ:

1. What is an individual recreation building?

An individual recreation building is simply another name for the popular holiday cabin. By definition, it is a building intended for seasonal leisure. Such cabins are most often built in picturesque natural surroundings, e.g. in the mountains or by the sea.

1. Can you live in a holiday cabin all year round?

Yes, you can live in a holiday cabin all year round. Ultimately, though, it is up to the owner whether to adapt the building for the colder months, e.g. by insulating it properly.