Building permit for an Attefall house – when is it needed?
An Attefall house requires a building permit ("bygglov") if it does not meet all the conditions in Chapter 9, sections 4–5 of the Planning and Building Act. The most common reasons are that the plot has no home on it, that the house is placed closer than 4.5 metres to the boundary without the neighbour's written consent, or that the detailed plan has an extended permit requirement.
Updated
House 6 × 3 m, 18 m², kitchen and toilet. Foundation and connections not included.
Situations that trigger a building permit
| Situation | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Undeveloped plot | Permit exemption requires an existing one- or two-family home |
| The main building has no final clearance | According to Boverket it does not yet count as a building |
| Closer than 4.5 m to the boundary without consent | Building permit required |
| Within 30 m of the centre of a railway track | Building permit required unless the infrastructure manager consents |
| Extended permit requirement in the detailed plan | Building permit required |
| National interest for total defence | Building permit required for supplementary dwellings |
If a building permit is needed
That does not mean the answer will be no. You submit an application to the municipal building committee with a site plan, drawings and elevations. We produce the drawings and elevations for the house; the site plan shows where on your plot it will stand. The municipality's processing time and fees are on its own website.
If it is permit-free
Since 1 December 2025 the house itself needs no notification. But when water, drainage, ventilation or a fireplace is installed, a notification and start decision are required – see notification and start decision. Ask the municipality's building permit unit which documents they want.
Do our plot check before you contact the municipality, so you know which questions to ask.
Sources (in Swedish): Boverket – komplementbostadshus · Boverket – Får jag bygga? (2026)