Common land should be open and accessible to the public, and the law restricts the kind of works that can be carried out on commons. Registers of common land are held by the Commons Registration Authorities, generally the county council or unitary authority for the area.

The Planning Inspectorate is responsible for determining applications under the 2006 Act regarding common land in England, and several other pieces of legislation regarding commons and greens. All applications are determined on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).