Please see the list below for answers to frequently asked questions regarding planning permission around the home
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The Planning Portal has a section dedicated to common questions about planning permission and the Building Regulations. If you have a question about planning permission this is the best place to start.
The Planning Portal Service Desk is not able to answer questions about planning permission – only questions about using the website service.
You can find advice on the most common projects by clicking on one of the links below.
If you have further questions about a particular aspect of planning permission you should contact your local planning authority, usually your council.
Remember, the Planning Portal Service Desk team aren’t planning experts so you will need to talk to your local authority planning team.
You can find contact information for your local planning authority on the Planning Portal.
The planning rules covering windows are covered in this section on the Planning Portal.
If, after using our site guidance, you have further questions about a particular aspect of planning permission you should contact your local planning authority, usually your council. Our Service Desk aren’t planning experts so you will need to talk to your local authority planning team.
You can find contact information for your local planning authority on the Planning Portal.
The planning rules covering extensions are explained in this section on the Planning Portal.
You may also find this interactive guide to Extensions useful, which illustrates visually what is covered in our text guidance.
(The interactive guide needs Adobe Flash to be installed on your computer. You can download Flash free-of-charge from the Adobe website.)
If, after using our site guidance, you have further questions about a particular aspect of planning permission you should contact your local planning authority, usually your council. Our Service Desk aren’t planning experts so you will need to talk to your local authority planning team.
You can find contact information for your local planning authority on the Planning Portal.
The planning rules covering fences, walls and gates are covered in this section on the Planning Portal.
If, after using our site guidance, you have further questions about a particular aspect of planning permission you should contact your local planning authority, usually your council.
You can find contact information for your local planning authority on the Planning Portal.
The planning rules covering extensions are explained in this section on the Planning Portal.
You may also find this interactive guide to Extensions useful, which illustrates visually what is covered in our text guidance.
(The interactive guide needs Adobe Flash to be installed on your computer. You can download Flash free-of-charge from the Adobe website.)
If, after using our site guidance, you have further questions about a particular aspect of planning permission you should contact your local planning authority, usually your council. Our Service Desk aren’t planning experts so you will need to talk to your local authority planning team.
You can find contact information for your local planning authority on the Planning Portal.
The planning rules covering patios and driveways are covered in this section on the Planning Portal.
If, after using our guidance, you have further questions about a particular aspect of planning permission you should contact your local planning authority, usually your council.
You can find contact information for your local planning authority on the Planning Portal.
The planning rules covering works to the roof are covered in this section on the Planning Portal.
If, after using our site guidance, you have further questions about a particular aspect of planning permission you should contact your local planning authority, usually your council.
You can find contact information for your local planning authority on the Planning Portal.
The planning rules covering works to trees, including felling and pruning, are covered in this section on the Planning Portal.
If, after using our site guidance, you have further questions about a particular aspect of planning permission you should contact your local planning authority, usually your council.
You can find contact information for your local planning authority on the Planning Portal.
The planning rules about fitting a satellite dish, or TV aerial, to your home are covered in this section on the Planning Portal.
If, after using our site guidance, you have further questions about a particular aspect of planning permission you should contact your local planning authority, usually your council.
You can find contact information for your local planning authority on the Planning Portal.
The planning rules about demolishing a building are covered in this section on the Planning Portal.
If, after using our site guidance, you have further questions about a particular aspect of planning permission you should contact your local planning authority, usually your council.
You can find contact information for your local planning authority on the Planning Portal.
In some cases, planning permission for a temporary building or use may be granted even though an application for a permanent building on the same land would be refused.
For example, permission might be granted for an application to erect a temporary building to last seven years on land which will be required while road improvements are carried out on the site.
You will need to contact your local planning authority to learn more about the planning rules for temporary buildings.
You can find contact information for your local planning authority on the Planning Portal.
Some kinds of work carried out to a property may not be building work that is controlled by the Building Regulations but may be work covered by the rules about the Party Wall.
Put simply, the Party Wall is the dividing wall or partition between two properties which is shared by the owners or tenants of each side.
The Party Wall Act introduced a procedure for dealing with disputes between owners of neighbouring properties.
There will be some cases where both the Party Wall Act and the Building Regulations will apply to work being carried out.
You must find out whether work you intend to carry out will be affected by the Party Wall rules.
You can download an explanatory booklet on the Party Wall Act from the Planning Portal.
To qualify as permitted development some household building work projects – notably extending a house – must not exceed limits to the volume being added. The rules are currently different in England and in Wales.
In England, the volume allowance mostly applies to loft conversions. You can read more on the Planning Portal.
The Portal has also developed a tool to help you calculate volume.
In Wales, volume allowance currently has a more significant role in permitted development, particularly with:
The Government has produced policy to advise local authorities on the use of their planning powers to minimise the adverse impact of noise.
The National Planning Policy Framework outlines the considerations to be taken into account in determining planning applications both for noise-sensitive developments and for those activities which generate noise.
This former booklet by the Department for Communities and Local Government is no longer available and has been replaced by the visual guidance on household projects available in our interactive house guide and 'Do you need permission?' section.
If you are looking for the booklet 'Permitted development for householders : technical guidance' it can be accessed here.
If you are looking for advice on one of the following projects, you may also find the interactive mini-guides we have created useful:
