Current agricultural land planning permit rules The agricultural land must be at least 5 hectares in size. You are not permitted to install, construct, or change any building that is classed as a residence. The structure must be used purely for agricultural purposes. It couldn't be the unit's first agricultural structure. Neither can it be used solely for non-agricultural purposes. In some areas, if you want to build a house on your farm, you will need to get special permission from your local government office. They may want to make sure that the new residents will have no impact on the environment or other farms in the area. If this applies to you, you should talk with someone there before you start work so there are no delays during construction. Farm buildings play an important role in maintaining and improving agricultural land. They include houses, storage buildings, workshops, and offices. Some farmers may even want to consider commercial buildings such as shopping centers or factories. All farm buildings require planning permission unless they're classified as agricultural structures. This means that they must comply with all the same regulations as any other building: minimum size, design guidelines, etc. Farmhouses are usually only built for one family. They usually contain two up to four bedrooms and one up to three bathrooms. Sometimes they also include a large garage, laundry room, and other functional spaces. Because farmhouses are mainly used by one family, they do not require special planning permission.