Many people may have never really wondered about it, but a garage isn’t a space where just anything goes. In fact, there are specific rules that define what an owner can and cannot do with it.Before diving into the details, it’s worth remembering that, by law, a garage cannot exceed 40 square meters. Of course, it’s possible to have spaces larger than that for parking cars, but from a legal standpoint, those would not be considered “garages” — they’d be classified more generally as areas intended for vehicle storage.A garage can be used within the limits of its intended purpose. In other words, a space officially registered as a garage can certainly serve as shelter for a car, but it may also be used as a storage area — for example, to keep household items that no longer fit in the home.
The law itself doesn’t restrict this kind of use, although the condominium’s internal regulations might. In such cases, the owner must obtain unanimous approval from all condominium members to proceed. However, a garage cannot be used as a living space or for storing hazardous and/or flammable materials.What about turning it into an office? That is possible — but only after officially changing the property’s designated use in the land registry and carrying out the necessary renovation work to make it compliant with the new function.
Finally, it’s important to remember that even if the garage owner doesn’t own an apartment in the building, they are still considered a condominium member in every respect — and therefore subject to all internal condominium rules and obligations.