The webmaster believes these to not be the latest version. In particular Bonfires are only allowed in November as shown in the guidance notes. However, attempts to obtain the current rules is proving difficult.
All plotholders must obey the rules published by the Council. In addition some sites have additional rules which extend the basic set Tenants should receive a copy of the rules when taking on a plot or download them here.
The Council also publishes some guidelines based on the rules.
Upkeep of your allotment
You must keep your allotment plot clean and well maintained. If you don’t, the Allotment Association may talk to you or send you a letter about the improvements you need to make.
If you lose your allotment plot because it has not been well maintained, you may be charged for any work that has to be done to clear it.
Using hosepipes and sprinklers
You can use a hosepipe to fill watering cans or water butts up to a maximum size of 200L. You cannot fill large IBC tanks (1000L). You must not water your allotment using a hosepipe or sprinkler.
Having bonfires
Most allotment sites allow you to have a bonfire on your plot.
If you have a bonfire there are strict rules you must follow:
- you can only have bonfires in November
- bonfires can only be used to burn diseased plant material
- your bonfire must not cause a nuisance to other people
- you must never leave a bonfire unattended
Some allotment sites do not allow bonfires at any time. Talk to someone from your Allotment Committee or check your tenancy agreement to find out the rules at your site.
Keeping bees
You can keep bees on your allotment plot, but you must get permission from your Allotment Association first.
If you keep bees on your allotment, you must have public liability insurance, ideally though membership or affiliation with the British Bee Keepers Association. A copy of your insurance certificate must be sent to the Council.
Keeping chickens
You can keep up to 12 hens or bantams on your plot. You must not keep cockerels or any other type of poultry.
If you want to keep chickens on your allotment, please speak to your allotment association or the Birmingham District Allotment Confederation.
Putting up sheds, greenhouses, polytunnels and other structures
You may put up a shed and other temporary structures, such as greenhouses, polytunnels, water containers or compost containers. These structures must not take up more than a quarter of your plot in total. You should keep all structures well maintained and in good condition.
You are allowed to have one shed on your plot and either a greenhouse or a polytunnel.
Where possible, put structures at the rear of your allotment plot or as directed by your Allotment Association or the Birmingham District Allotment Confederation. A gap of at least 60 centimetres (2 feet) should be left between any structure and the boundary fence of any private garden alongside the allotment.
You should not build structures with permanent foundations. Sheds or greenhouses may be supported on temporary foundations that are a maximum of 22 centimetres (9”) deep and laid dry.
If a structure on your plot doesn’t meet the conditions set out here, your Allotment Association may ask you to take it down.
Sheds
You are allowed to have one shed up to 3 metres by 2.4 metres and 2.6m high (10’ by 8’ by 8’6”).
Construction and materials
Your shed can be made from a kit, in metal or timber.
Alternatively, you can build your own shed from clean sawn wood. Your shed must be clad in planed soft wood, cedar wood, shiplap or weather boarding. You should not use felt covering on shed sides.
Your shed roof should be laid on purlins. Rigid corrugated plastic may be used for the roof. Chimneys are not permitted.
Your shed should have guttering connected to a water container sunk into the ground.
Finish
Sheds must be painted mid-green or treated with a suitable wood preservative at least every three years.
Greenhouses
Your greenhouse can be up to 3 metres by 2.4 metres and 2.6m high (10’ by 8’ by 8’6”).
Greenhouses should be glazed with glass or horticultural PVC. Thin polythene sheeting is not allowed.
Polytunnels
A polytunnel can be up to 6 metres by 3 metres (20 feet x 10 feet). You must get permission from your Allotment Association or the Birmingham District Allotment Confederation before you build a polytunnel on your plot.
Water containers and compost containers
Compost containers can be up to 1.2 metres by 1.8 metres by 0.76 metres in height (4′ x 6′ x 2’6″). They can be made from wood or mesh or from an approved manufactured design.
Other temporary structures
From the 1 June to 31 October you may also have other temporary structures on your site, such as fruit cages.
These should cover a maximum of 55.7 square metres (600 square foot) of your plot and be a maximum of 2.13 metres (7 foot) in height.
The structures may be purchased or self-built from a framework of clean sawn timber, metal or approved manufactured design. Coverings of clean, heavy gauge polythene sheeting are permitted.