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Planning Permission

Do you need planning permission to put up a fence?

You will not need to apply for planning permission if you wish to erect a new; or alter, maintain, improve or take down* an existing fence, wall or gate if the following conditions are met:

  • in regard to its height:
    • it is next to a highway used by vehicles (or the footpath of such a highway) and it would not exceed one metre in height (from ground level); or
    • it would not exceed two metres in height (from ground level) if elsewhere; or
    • if an existing fence, wall or gate already exceeds the limits above, that its height would not be increased.
  • no part of the site is a listed building or within the curtilage of a listed building.
  • no part of the fence, wall, gate or any other boundary involved, forms a boundary with a neighbouring listed building or its curtilage.
  • the right to put up or alter fences, walls and gates has not been removed by an article four direction or a planning condition.

If any of these conditions are not met, then you will need to apply for planning permission.

*In a conservation area, you might need permission take down a fence, wall or gate. Find out more about conservation areas and when permission may be required1.

You do not need planning permission for hedges as such, though if a planning condition or a covenant restricts planting (for example, on "open plan" estates, or where a driver's sight line could be blocked) you may need planning permission and/or other consent.

Things to consider

You may find it helpful to use the following third-party commercial service to plan your home improvement project:

This link will take you to information about their services.

  1. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/planning-consultancy-calculator

Find a Trade Professional

Use our partner directories from CIAT, FMB or RTPI to find an chartered architectural technologist, builder or planning consultant to help with your project or development.

Find a professional


Useful links

Make an application Studio Charrette planning consultancy calculator
    1. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/responsibilities/other-permissions-you-may-require/conservation-areas

    The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). All content © 2024 Planning Portal.

    The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). All content © 2024 Planning Portal.