Reply To: Definition of "curtilage"? (with regards planning permission exemption)

You have to be very careful about this. Exempted developments in relation to a house usually means directly in association with the house. For instance exempted extensions must be behind the house. A technical definition that is easy to overlook for instance where there is a garage. If the extension is behind the garage it is not technically behind the house and as such no longer exempt. Similarly the exemptions for garden related structures assumes the standard suburban situation not fields or spaces next door. If there is any doubt you could seek a certificate of exemption from the local authority but this takes about 2 months usually. Even then it may find there is no exemption which kicks you back to making a planning application regardless. The shortcut to this would be to contact the local planner and ask their direct opinion which they are obliged to do. Curtilage is normally the conditions in which the house is set including the boundary walls, fences, hedges and other defined elements. It will not include clearly defined separate properties even if empty.