If you want to avoid problems when planning improvements in the garden, always assume you should ask for garden planning permission. While there are certain activities allowed in local building codes, if you are adding any permanent structure, you should ask if a permit or other special permission is required.

While many people might quickly thing of asking for permission when building a garden shed, there are other areas where you might not be as quick in thinking of asking for permission. For example, you should check with local officials when planning to pave a driveway or when building a garden wall.

Due to problems with runoff water and flash flooding, many communities are limiting the amount of a garden that can be paved with a hard impermeable surface, such as those commonly used for driveways. If planning to pave a driveway, you will need to check with local officials as to the types of paving that are allowed and the plans for drainage of the water that might fall onto the drive.

With garden walls, there are often height restrictions. These restrictions help to protect your neighbor's view. No one wants to be able to look out a window only to see the neighbor's brick garden wall. Local codes are designed to protect everyone.

Then, of course you will want to check with the officials if you are planning a garden shed. Many local codes allow for building a shed without asking for special permission, however, you need to check to be sure that your plans are acceptable according to local codes.

If you decide that you will move ahead with your plans without checking with local officials, you may receive a notice a few months or years later that require you to remove the offending structures. In addition, in some communities you can face fines.