How do I know if my plot allows an Attefall house?
You find out in five steps: check whether the plot is inside a detailed plan, what the plan says, where the boundary is, how much of the allowance is used and whether shoreline or other protection applies. The municipal map and Lantmäteriet's services give most of the answers, and the municipality's building permit office confirms.
Updated
House 6 × 3 m, 18 m², kitchen and toilet. Foundation and connections not included.
Step 1 – Inside or outside a detailed plan?
Search your municipality's website for "karta" or "gällande detaljplaner" (current detailed plans). Most municipalities have a web map where you click on the property and see whether a detailed plan applies. The answer decides whether the limits are 30.0 m² / 4.0 m / allowance 45 m², or 50.0 m² / 4.5 m / allowance 65 m².
Step 2 – Read the plan provisions
Open the detailed plan or area regulations and look for an extended permit requirement and protection of cultural values. Older plans may instead have a reduced permit requirement; such provisions adopted under the current PBL apply until 30 November 2027 at the latest.
Step 3 – Find the boundary
Use Lantmäteriet's Min karta to see the property boundaries. Measure 4.5 metres from the boundary to where the house will stand. If it is closer, you need the neighbour's written consent or a building permit.
Step 4 – Count the allowance
| Permit-free outbuildings on the plot | Your plot (m²) |
|---|---|
| Sheds, huts, old friggebods | … |
| Garage or carport built without a permit | … |
| Our house | 18 |
| Total – max 45 inside / 65 outside a detailed plan | … |
Step 5 – Shoreline protection, total defence and main building
- Shoreline protection normally applies 100 metres from the shoreline and can be extended up to 300 metres. An exemption is required there – see Naturvårdsverket.
- If the property is within or near an area of national interest for total defence (airport, training or firing range), a building permit is required for a supplementary dwelling.
- The main building must be a one- or two-family home with a final clearance, or lawfully built under older rules.
Confirm with the municipality
Send the answers above to the municipality's building permit office and ask which documents they want in the notification for water and drainage (see notification and start decision). Keep the reply in writing.
Sources (in Swedish): Boverket – komplementbostadshus · Boverket – Får jag bygga? (2026) · Lantmäteriet · Naturvårdsverket – strandskydd
Frequently asked questions
Can I trust the municipality's web map?
It shows the current plans, but the legally binding document is the detailed plan itself. If in doubt, ask the municipality.
Does my old friggebod count towards the allowance?
Yes. Outbuildings erected without a building permit, including under older rules, count towards the total building area.