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Planning Permission

The planning rules for porches are applicable to any external door to the dwellinghouse.

Adding a porch to any external door of your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, provided:

  1. the ground floor area (measured externally) would not exceed three square metres.
  2. no part would be more than three metres above ground level (height needs to be measured in the same way as for a house extension).
  3. no part of the porch would be within two metres of any boundary of the dwellinghouse and the highway.

Please note: The permitted development allowances described here apply to houses and not to:

  • Flats and maisonettes (view our guidance on flats and maisonettes1
  • Converted houses or houses created through the ‘permitted development’ rights for:
  • Other buildings
  • Areas where there may be a planning condition, Article 4 Direction or other restriction that limits permitted development rights.


More information

A planning consultant may help with the smooth running of your project. To find an accurate consultancy quote, explore Studio Charrette's calculators.3

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.

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Useful links

Make an application Planning consultancy calculator
    1. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/flats-and-maisonettes/introduction
    2. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/change-of-use/use-classes
    3. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/planning-consultancy-calculator

    The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). All content © 2024 Planning Portal.

    The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). All content © 2024 Planning Portal.