Tools · Do I need planning permission?

Do you need planning permission for a fence, wall or gate?

Fences, walls and gates are permitted development up to 2 metres high, or 1 metre where they face a road used by vehicles.

Across the 168 councils we track, 85% of 22,807 decided fence, garden wall or gate applications were approved, and typical council decision times run 9 to 12 weeks (public planning record to 2 Jul 2026).

First, about your home

What kind of home is it?

These permitted development rights apply to houses. Flats and maisonettes do not have them.

Is the building listed?

Work to a listed building usually needs listed building consent as well as planning permission. Outbuildings and boundary walls within the grounds of a listed building also need permission.

Is your home in a conservation area, National Park, the Broads, an area of outstanding natural beauty, or a World Heritage Site?

The rules call this designated land. Several permitted development rights are reduced or removed there. If you are not sure, your council's website says which areas are designated.

Now, about a fence, wall or gate

Will it be taller than 1 metre where it faces a road used by vehicles?
Will it be taller than 2 metres anywhere else?

0 of 5 questions answered. Answer them all to see where your project stands. Not sure is always an option.

What actually happens in your council

If you do end up applying, real decisions show what to expect. Pick your council for its approval rate and typical decision time for fence, garden wall or gate applications, from the public planning record.

The rules this checker tests, cited

England’s permitted development limits for a fence, wall or gate, checked against the official guidance on 2026-07-17. Every rule links to its source.

Building Regulations are separate from planning. Fences, garden walls and gates do not need Building Regulations approval, but a garden wall should still be built to a safe standard.

If permission is needed: usually a £272 application in England (fees from 1 April 2026, indexed each year, per the official fee guide (opens in new tab)). A Lawful Development Certificate for a proposed project is £274.

If you take it forward

Real planning history beats promises. See which architects and agents know your council, check approval odds by council and project, or browse traders with public evidence:

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Common questions

Do I need planning permission for a fence, wall or gate in England?

Often not: Fences, walls and gates are permitted development up to 2 metres high, or 1 metre where they face a road used by vehicles. Every limit has to be met, the rights apply to houses (not flats), and they can be removed locally by an Article 4 direction or a condition on an earlier permission. A Lawful Development Certificate from your council is the way to be certain.

Will it be taller than 1 metre where it faces a road used by vehicles?

Next to a road used by vehicles (or the footway of one), a fence, wall or gate must not be taller than 1 metre. Source: GPDO Schedule 2, Part 2, Class A.

Will it be taller than 2 metres anywhere else?

Away from the road, a fence, wall or gate must not be taller than 2 metres. Source: GPDO Schedule 2, Part 2, Class A.

How much does a planning application for a fence, wall or gate cost?

If permission is needed, this kind of project is usually a £272 application in England (fees from 1 April 2026, indexed annually). A Lawful Development Certificate for a proposed project costs half the application fee.

Guidance from the public rules, not legal advice. Your council has the final say. The rules on this page are England law; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own versions.

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