Small structures a garden store, a tool shed, a small auxiliary building sit in the “surely not?” category, and the answer is: you still need a designer and a permit, but there’s a streamlined route for small ones. “Streamlined” is not the same as “none.” (This is one of the works in our main guide, do I need planning permission in Cyprus?)
The size thresholds
Under the Exemption Order (Κ.Δ.Π. 384/2022), smaller structures can be handled through a lighter procedure rather than the full one (these figures are web-sourced from the ΕΟΑ Λάρνακας FAQ; confirm the current order):
- an agricultural store up to about 30 m², and
- a small auxiliary building up to about 20 m²,
can be prepared and submitted by a designer under the Order. Go above those sizes, or outside the Order’s conditions, and the normal permit procedure applies.
Auxiliary buildings have their own rules
Even a small ancillary building has to respect the standard conditions for auxiliary structures broadly: a minimum distance from boundaries (in the order of 1.50 m), a modest maximum height (around 3.50 m), a cap on how much of the plot it can cover, and a limit relative to the size of the main house. Your designer confirms the exact figures. The point is that “small” doesn’t mean “unregulated.”
Why you still need a designer
The common misconception is that a small store can just be built. In practice, even under the Exemption Order, a licensed architect or civil engineer must prepare the drawings and submit them through ΙΠΠΟΔΑΜΟΣ. That’s what keeps it lawful and keeps your property’s paperwork clean for a future sale or Certificate of Approval.
The takeaway
A small garden store is genuinely quicker and simpler than a full build, but it still requires a designer and a permit, and it has to be set the right distance from your boundaries. Confirm the size and setbacks first, and it’s a straightforward job.
We prepare and submit small stores and auxiliary buildings under the exemption route across Larnaca and Cyprus. Get a quote or see our permit services.
Sources: ΕΟΑ Λάρνακας building FAQ (Κ.Δ.Π. 384/2022, stores) eoal.org.cy · Auxiliary-building standard conditions (Εγκύκλιος 22/2022 Παράρτημα) moi.gov.cy
By Christos Christou Architecture Studio, CGP Christou LLC, registered in the ETEK Register of Consulting Companies (Μητρώο Εταιρειών Μελετών), Reg. No. C00226. Verify in the ETEK register. Christos Christou Architecture Studio, Larnaca. General information current at the date of publication, not legal advice; confirm current thresholds and distances for your plot. Published 12 July 2026 · last reviewed 12 July 2026.
